2007: Dunfermline 1 BK Hacken 1

Memorable Match #10
UEFA Cup Second Qualifying Round
Wednesday, 15th Aug 2007

East End Park had waited over 37 years for European football to return. Although by virtue of being Scottish Cup finalists Dunfermline Athletic had played in the 2004-2005 UEFA Cup, the home leg of their tie against Hafnarfjordur, had to grace McDiarmid Park since the Icelandic opposition did not fancy the UEFA approved artificial East End Park surface.

Pre match the atmosphere was quiet but expectant with everyone hoping that this was not just was not going to be a one off UEFA Cup experience like the last time.

Swedish Division One club BK Hacken provided the opposition but they were stunned with a Dunfermline goal after just 55 seconds. Kevin Harper won a corner on the right after 20 seconds and although that was delivered in a very tame way, Dunfermline won possession and Darren Young lofted a high ball into the box. A defender sent the ball soaring into the evening sky and when it came down to earth, Sol Bamba leapt high above his opponents to head the ball beyond keeper Christoffer Källqvist but the crossbar saved the Swedes. Jim HAMILTON was on hand however at the left goalpost to grab the early goal. What a start! 1-0

Hacken responded with a rocket of a free kick from 35 yards by the Brazilian José Antônio Periera and Roddy McKenzie had to drop down to his left to hold. The match was still inside the third minute when a Scott Thomson pass back was hoofed in the air by McKenzie. He was challenged by Dioh Williams who got a connection that went wide right as McKenzie covered back.

McKenzie then hurt himself as he fell on top of a low cross from the left and after a lengthy period while the physio Gerry Docherty and Doctor Bobby Robertson tried to repair him, the thigh strain he had sustained forced him to retire. In just the 10th minute this created the opportunity for a young Sean Murdoch to make his senior debut. What a baptism for the 21 year old.

Bamba lived dangerously losing possession on the left side of his penalty box and letting Hacken cut the ball back for a shot from the edge of the box that went high over the crossbar into the empty East Stand.

At the midway point of the first half Greg Shields picked out Mark Burchill and he played the ball off Hamilton on 18 yards but fell in his challenge to head at goal. No penalty for the challenge.

Skipper Scott Thomson was wide with his header from a corner and Stephen Glass tried something different with another free kick just three minutes later. This time he hit the ball straight for Burchill to run on to in the left side of the box. His cross was cleared only as far as Harper but when he slipped the pass to Hamilton Hacken were saved by a defender`s block.

On the half hour Hacken had two good attempts and there were deep sighs of relief all around East End Park when Murdoch saved from Williams and then after a cut back from Henriksson was sent over the top by Williams.

Hacken were getting in a worrying amount of crosses, off target shots and winning the odd corner. The Pars ended the half on the attack and at the break there was just the one goal separating the sides.

Half Time: Dunfermline 1 BK Hacken 0

A medial knee strain meant Scott Thomson was replaced by Scott Morrison for the restart and Greg Shields assumed the captain`s armband. Burchill almost got the second half off to a flyer racing beyond the defenders on to a Scott Wilson free kick but despite his speed he just couldn’t catch the chance.

The Pars fans were bursting into song after two near things in 50th minute. Periera earned himself a yellow card for his foul on Young and from the free kick Bamba flicked the ball into the path of Hamilton who from a tight angle hit the right goalpost.

Keeper Sean Murdoch was having a good debut game until in 57th minutes he came for a ball on the right side of his area. Williams was running towards him but the ball bounced over the substitute keeper’s head.  A touch from the keeper had slowed the ball and Jonas HENRIKSSON latched on to it to score an extremely soft equaliser. 1-1

Simmons went down in the Hacken box and then Burchill felt that he too should have had a penalty. His dissent only earned him a yellow card. Sean Murdoch redeemed himself a bit with a great save from Daniel Larsson as Hacken stepped up the pressure.

In 75th minute Sean Murdoch pulled off another fine stop from Ari Freyr Skúlason and then from a corner Williams header was headed clear at the far post by Bamba.

As time ran away Dunfermline pushed for a winner. Harper whizzed the ball through the six yard box with Bamba, Hamilton and Wilson all failing to get the vital touch.

In time added on however, the Swedish side should have clinched it when Henriksson`s 93rd minute run down the left was squared and somehow Williams missed the chance. Luck was with the Pars as Scott Morrison`s attempt to clear went behind him and around the far post.

In disappointment, the home crowd booed at the end recognising that their team would have a really hard task to win through in Gothenburg in a fortnight`s time. For one unfortunate 21 year old this match will be remembered forever for a terrible blunder.

A draw and conceding a goal at home, not the best way to approach the second leg in the Ullevi Stadium. The Swedish side won the second leg 1-0 with Jim Hamilton turning from UEFA Cup hero to villain when red carded in 57th minute.

DUNFERMLINE: Roddy McKenzie (Sean Murdoch 10); Greg Shields, Souleymane Bamba, Scott Wilson, Scott Thomson (c)(Scott Morrison HT); Kevin Harper, Darren Young, Stephen Simmons ( Owen Morrison 78), Stephen Glass; Jim Hamilton, Mark Burchill
SUBS NOT USED: Tam McManus, Phil McGuire, Stevie Crawford, Nick Phinn
SCORERS: Hamilton (1)
YELLOW CARD: Burchill (62), Young (70)

BK HACKEN: Christoffer Källqvist; Johan Lind, Mats Hedén, David Marek, Daniel Larsson ( Peter Olofsson 87); Jonas Henriksson, José Antônio Periera, Robert Mambo Mumba, Ari Freyr Skúlason; Dioh Williams, Daniel Forsell.
SUBS NOT USED: Alexander Hysén (GK), Teddy Lucic, Jesper Ljung, Erik Friberg, Fredrik Holster
SCORERS: Henriksson (57)
YELLOW CARD: Periera (49)

REFEREE: Robert Kranjc (Slovenia)
WEATHER: Dry 14ºC
ATTENDANCE 6017

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