Dundee United and Motherwell served up a Scottish Cup classic in February 1994.
Thirty years ago, a drama similar to Tannadice resulted from the Scottish Cup fourth-round match between Motherwell and Dundee United.
This game, a rematch of the legendary 1991 championship, had it all.
After Jim McLean made the decision in May 1993 to permanently move from the manager’s chair to the chairman’s seat, Ivan Golac took over as United’s leader.
During his 22-year tenure as manager, McLean only failed to win the Scottish Cup, even though the team competed in six finals during that time.
At Arbroath, the Tannadice team began their 1994 journey to the Scottish Cup finals.
Craig Brewster’s incredible goal, of which there will be more later, was the high point of a challenging match for United, who ultimately prevailed 3-2.
United dominated the first few minutes of play, and on minute 26, Rab Shannon stopped a shot from Paddy Connolly after Sieb Dijkstra was out of position.
On minute 31, Motherwell took the lead after United goalkeeper Guido van de Kamp made a huge mistake by allowing a cross from Brian Martin to escape his reach.
After Brian Welsh had stopped his first attempt, Steve Kirk, who scored the game-winning goal for Motherwell in the 1991 final, shoved the ball home on his second try.
Jim McNally’s tenacity paid off when he broke down the left and sent a low cross to the near post, restoring the status quo before the interval.
Brewster slipped past Chris McCart and Miodrag Krivokapic to shoot a close-range shot into the net’s ceiling while Dijkstra remained firmly in his line of defense.
On the fifty-fiveth minute, United led.
After an incredible move that included Christian Dailly, Brewster, Maurice Malpas, and Paddy Connolly, the striker scored his second goal of the day.
After a succession of one-pass movements, Brewster put the ball on his chest, let it bounce, and then rifled home a strike right in front of the Shed end to make it 2-1.
On the Sportscene highlights, BBC pundit Jock Brown called the goal a “moment of magic” from the “outstanding attacker of the afternoon.”
Thirty years later, the goal is still talked about.
Motherwell could have equalized from the penalty 17 minutes from time when Freddy van der Hoorn hauled Paul McGrillen down as the substitute formed to score, but instead it was a sucker blow.
After making a mistake that led to the first goal, Van de Kamp must have thought he would be the last to laugh as he threw himself to his right to save Coyne’s effort.
But in the end, United fell apart.
John Philliben’s contentious equalizer in injury time allowed for a 2-2 tie.
Martin sent Van de Kamp sprawling to the ground as he attempted to block Rob McKinnon’s free-kick, and Philliben had enough room to drive the ball in.
Motherwell finished the day as favorites to advance in the replay and play Airdrie in the next round after United’s complaints for a foul were rejected by the referee.
Although the last-gasp equalizer should hardly have surprised the home crowd, United had every right to feel unjustly done by
Nine times, United have led a game at one point and then drawn it.
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