Hibernian 1-2 Dundee Utd: Hibs' Euro hopes dashed by United

Published on Saturday 2 May 2009 17:18

HIBS' already faint hopes of Europe evaporated as Dundee United turned up the heat on the third-placed Edinburgh side with a 2-1 win at Easter Road.

But the match ended in controversy as referee Stevie O'Reilly showed Hibs defender Chris Hogg a straight red card for what appeared to be no more than a run of the mill challenge on United winger Craig Conway five minutes from time.

Hibs star David van Zanten had taken a boot in the face from Conway just seconds earlier and was still receiving treatment when David Goodwillie scored United's second.

Wayne Feeney had earlier put United ahead, his goal cancelled out by Steven Fletcher with the game looking to be heading for a draw until those controversial final few minutes with Hibs now facing Thursday's derby without Hogg who will join skipper Rob Jones, Sol Bamba and Colin Nish on the sidelines through suspension.

Already without Jones, Bamba and NIsh, there was a further surprise for Hibs fans with the return in goal of Yves Ma-Kalambay, the Belgian Under-21 internationalist replacing former United star Grzegorz Szamoltulski who, presumably, was injured.

A terrific ball from Derek Riordan into the path of Denes Rosa carved out the game's first opening but the little midfielder drilled a low shot wide of the target rather than test Lukasz Zaluska.

There was a double let-off for Hibs in the 12th minute as Darren Dods got his head to Danny Swanson's corner only to see his effort crash back off the bar, falling kindly for Danny Grainer who nodded it back in forcing Lewis Stevenson to clear off his own line.

The Edinburgh club hit back, however, Riordan playing in Fletcher who fired a low cross to Jonatan Johansson. The Finn held off Dods but Zaluska got down well to his right to push the ball away.

But United made their aerial power pay in the 27th minute as former Hibs defender Dods got his head to Grainger's cross, guiding the ball down for Feeney to blast home from six yards.

Hibs were level, though, after 39 minutes, John Rankin's clever flick giving Johansson the space to deliver a low cross which Fletcher bundled over the line from only a yard out for his 11th goal of the season.

A cruel deflection off Chris Hogg as he attempted to block a shot from Prince Buaben almost undid all that good work, however, Ma-Kalambay wrong-footed as the ball dropped agonisingly wide of his right hand post.

United went close again in the 65th minute as Edinburgh-born Danny Swanson cut the ball back for defender Garry Kenneth to dispatch a first-time shot which saw Ma-Kalambay use every inch of his 6ft 5in frame to push the ball to safety.

Ma-Kalambay was called into action again, beating away a powerful shot from United substitute Craig Conway and quickly composing himself to gather Feeney's effort from the rebound.

Hibs were controversially reduced to ten men five minutes from time when Chris Hogg was sent off after sliding in on Conway, the Easter Road defender bemused by the decision of referee Stevie O'Reilly, even United boss Craig Levein tacitly admitting he'd been harshly treated by shaking his hand as he disconsolately trudged towards the tunnel.

David van Zanten had taken a boot in the face in a challenge on Conway just seconds earlier and was stll receiving treatment four minutes later when David Goordwillie shrugged off Ian Murray before slotting home the winner.

Hibs: Ma-Kalambay, Van Zanten McCormack 89), Hogg, Thicot, Stevenson, Rankin, Rosa (O'Brien 62), Murray, Riordan, Johansson, Fletcher. Subs not used: McNeil, Keenan, Hanlon, Chisholm, Cropley.

Dundee United: Zaluska, Caddis, Kenneth, Dods, Grainger, D Robertson, Wesolowski (Gomis 25), Buaben, Swanson(Conway 77), Feeney, Shala (Goodwillie 58). Subs not used: McGovern, Dillon, S Robertson, Kovacevic..

Referee: Stevie O'Reilly.