The starting line ups for today's Under-21 league match at Dens Park were as follows:-
DUNDEE - Derek Soutar; Steven Narey, Steven Watson, Steven McInally and Barry Forbes;
Beto Carranza, Lee Mair and Alan Youngson; Duncan McLean, Juan Sara and Kristofer Brash. Subs:- Bobby Linn; Neil Clark; Chris Hegarty and Neil Stephen.
ABERDEEN - David Preece; Stephen Payne; Robert Duncan; Patrizio Billio; Kevin Rutkiewicz; Robert Hedderman; Nicolas Fabiano; Ross O'Donoghue; Scott Michie; Leon Mike; Scott Muirhead. Subs: Mark Peat; Duncan Jones; Calum McKenzie; Murray McCulloch and Calum McHattie.
In a game that was played in torrential rain from start to finish silky football was seen only on the very odd occasion. But it was always competitive and both teams went about it right from the word go and the pace was often hectic, to say the least.
Dundee fielded 6 of their Under-18 players, Narey, Hegarty, Youngson, McLean, Linn and McInally. Few of these kids have reached their 18th year yet, some have just turned 17. Well known faces Carranza, Mair, Forbes and Sara were the only players with regular first team experience. Aberdeen had Patrizio Billio in their midfield, David Preece in goal and Leon Mike up front and looked a more experienced outfit for most of the game.
But it was Dundee who took the game to Aberdeen right from kick off, Juan Sara robbing Mike and heading for goal and his pass to Brash is desperately cleared for a corner kick. Sara heads the resultant cross over the bar.
Aberdeen soon have a stranglehold on the game with Dundee hitting on the break on the odd occasion, but under the cosh for most of the first half. It was no surprise when the Dons took the lead, ROSS O'DONOGHUE firing home from the edge of the box after good build up play.
An excellent save by Derek Soutar in the Dundee goal prevents the Dons from going further ahead and midway through the first half the question is how many they would score against a very slipshod looking Dundee team.
Dundee do look dangerous at times and when a great 5 man passing move gives Beto Carranza the ball in space his perfect cross from the right sees Kris Brash slide in only to miss by a whisker.
When Aberdeen go 2-0 up it looks like there's no way back for Dundee. The goal has a touch of good fortune about it as the very powerful LEON MIKE sets off on a mazy that takes him into the Dundee box. Two defenders contrive to close him down but when he shoots and Soutar looks to have the ball covered it takes a deflection off a defender and goes in to give Aberdeen a 2-0 lead.
Brash is booked for a foul on Billio close to half time and the whistle comes as something of a relief for the dark blues who had looked to be totally outclassed in the first half.
The second half sees Bobby Linn replacing Juan Sara and he quickly makes his mark on the game showing great determination and fighting spirit and plenty of pace and good reflexes.
The signs of a resurgence by Dundee comes when a first time shot from Aberdonian Alan Youngson which Preece has to save with his fingertips, tipping the ball round the post for a corner. Duncan McLean follows this up with a good shot that the keeper saves yet again.
Chris Hegarty replaces Barry Forbes as Dundee try to get back into the game and the addition of Heggy and Linn have made a difference as they are attacking Aberdeen much more now.
The breakthrough comes, but at a cost when some great build up play ends with a great ball for BETO CARRANZA. He races past his man and fires a great shot that Preece manages to block. The ball rebounds to Beto and he slots it home but collapses in a heap and is immediately subbied, holding the same right knee that has kept him out of contention for a place since the Raith friendly in July.
Beto looks to be in pain as he heads off into the dressing room and a look of dismay can be seen on the faces of every one of the 150 or so fans who were at the game. He is replaced by Neil Clark.
There are no real experienced players on for Dundee and Billio had been subbed by the Dons also, so Leon Mike was perhaps the only big named player left on the park. The dark blue youngsters show amazing fight in the last 20 minutes and when Duncan McLean races clear of his marker and is about to pull the trigger he is brought down by Kevin Rutkiewicz, the Dons centre half who had been one of the best players on the park. The defender is red carded, being the last man and KRIS BRASH slots home a left footed penalty low into the right hand corner of the net to make it 2-2.
Both teams battle hard for the winner and chances come at both ends but the pitch conditions and the torrential rain prevent any real cut chances to develop and the game ends all even at 2-2.
SUMMING UP: An excellent second half fight back by the young Dees. They seemed to play better when Sara was removed and Linn came on. Carranza's injury didn't dispel their will to win and if anything they played some of their best football in the last 20 minutes. Raymy Farningham can be very pleased by the final result in a game that looked all over by half time. Bearing in mind Dundee fielded half of their Under-18 team against what looked like a more experienced Dons side, this was a promising display, especially the second half.
For Aberdeen, I liked the looks of youngster Patrizio Billio. He's still got quality. Playing in a centre of midfield role he made intelligent runs into forward positions and he never wasted a ball. Centre Half Kevin Rutkiewicz, unlucky to be sent off, but he had to go. He'd had a brilliant game and would have been my man of the match without a doubt. Leon Mike, very strong, very skillful. Nicolas Fabiano, another who stood out in the Dons line up and striker Scott Michie also looked sharp and dangerous in the box.
PLAYERS PERFORMANCES: GOAL DEREK SOUTAR - One of two occasions apart when the greasy ball slipped from his grasp he did well, good handling and some great saves. RIGHT BACK STEVE NAREY - Began badly and looked like he was in for a very torrid afternoon. But I liked his bottle and the effort he put in and he began to come on strong the last quarter of the game when he overlapped and sent over some good cross balls. STEVEN WATSON - Central defender, had a hard job to do in trying to contain Leon Mike, ex Man. City player, but stuck to his task well and looked a very determined individual. STEVEN MCINALLY - Another 17 year old, I saw him play not so long ago and he's a strong tackling centre half, pretty good in the air. BARRY FORBES - playing as a left sided defender he was given a torrid time down his wing in the first half and was replaced in the second half. BETO CARRANZA - We have to now await the results of his latest injury setback, it was the same knee that had kept him out for so long. He had played away quite well, with only a few glimpses of his magical tricks. But this was a "take it easy" game for him and he seemed to be coasting it until the injury struck again. LEE MAIR - Was never composed enough for my liking, tended to give the ball away too often and lacked vision. Having said that he seemed to come on strong in the latter stages of the game and played his part in the fightback. ALAN YOUNGSON - Another of the younger players who are currently breaking through into the 21's, he's a real workhorse. At times he does the stupid thing and loses the ball needlessly, then soon after he does something pretty amazing. Plenty of promise there. JUAN SARA - Didn't look like he wanted to be there, and most of his time on the park what he did was predictable and he never seemed to be in the right position to attack the cross balls. Also caught offsides too often. DUNCAN MCLEAN - Never stopped running from start to finish and though he was kept quiet in the first half he came good in the second and began threatening the Dons goal. Brought down for the penalty that gave his side the draw they deserved. KRISTOFER BRASH --Completely out of things in the first half, he battled in the second half and turned on an inspiring performance of skill, composure and no little graft. Whispers at the match to the effect that this young man is close to making a first team appearance. BOBBY LINN - Just turned 17 here's a most promising young striker. He has an eye for the goal, is very fast and tricky and battles like mad to win the ball. Not the kind of player central defenders like to have near the penalty area. CHRIS HEGARTY - Has a nice touch on the ball, seems to make space for himself even when the game's played at 90 miles an hour and his entrance heralded the fight back. A completely different kind of player from his dad, he's much more skill for a start. Promising. NEIL CLARK struggled a bit when he came on late in the game. No wonder, by then the park was all surface water and no one could play any real football by that stage unless he had water wings.