DUNDEE UNITED 2 ABERDEEN 0 Tuesday 23 September 2025 William Hill Premiership Tannadice Attendance: 11,052 Referee: Steven McLean
Aberdeen’s wait for a first Premiership point continues as they were beaten by Dundee United at Tannadice.
There were three changes for the Dons after the weekend defeat to Motherwell in the Premier Sports Cup. Graeme Shinnie, Adil Aouchice and Topi Keskinen all started on the bench as they made way for Dante Polvara, Nicolas Milanovic and Sivert Heltne Nilsen, who captained the side. There were three changes on the bench with Marko Lazetic, Leighton Clarkson and the suspended
Nicky Devlin missing out, Gavin Molloy, Kusini Yengi and Kenan Bilalovic returning to the matchday squad.
Dundee United drew 3-3 at Hibs 10 days ago and named an unchanged team for the game at Tannadice.
The hosts had the first look at goal in the fifth minute, Sapsford fizzing the ball through the six yard box, fortunately just in front of Ferry’s run. Aberdeen responded with Milanovic’s cross from the left a minute later, Jesper Karlsson not quite able to get enough on his header which bobbled wide.
There was concern for Stephenson in the 14th minute, chasing a diagonal ball. As he hooked the ball back into play on the run, he charged into the advertising boards and took a nasty fall, requiring treatment before carrying on.
Alexander Jensen had to win an important defensive header to concede a corner as a dangerous cross came in on 17 minutes, but neither side was looking capable of carving the other open. That said, Dimitar Mitov had to make a sprawling save on 24 after a shot took a heavy deflection off Mats Knoetser. From the corner, Esselink headed wide from six yards out. Karlsson’s long range hit forced Kucherenko into a one handed slap of a save, but Aberdeen couldn’t quite work the rebound into a shooting position as we reached the half hour mark.
Kevin Nisbet very nearly picked Esselink’s pocket in the penalty area on 37, but the ball just got away from him and the chance was gone. United broke quickly from there, Dolcek through on goal but Mitov came to meet him and made a superb save to keep things level. Sapsford was booked for a challenge in the aftermath after Karlsson pinched the ball off him as he looked to work a shooting opportunity.
The hosts snatched the lead in the final minute the break, Dolcek the man to break the deadlock. A long throw was hurled into the Aberdeen box and after a spell of head tennis, Knoester’s headed clearance dropped nicely for him on the edge of the area and, given time and space, he drove his effort across Mitov to give his side the lead.
HALF-TIME: DUNDEE UNITED 1 ABERDEEN 0
Jack Milne replaced Alfie Dorrington at the break.
It was a bright start from Aberdeen, Milanovic curling a cross just beyond the far post in the 47thminute, Polvara just a fraction away from getting his head on it to level things up. United responded, Sevelj trying a speculative shot from 25 yards, Mitov having to push it behind at full stretch.
From the corner it was 2-0 to United, the corner flighted into the near post and then flicked on into the six yard box where Esselink had a free header that he planted past Mitov. A brief VAR check confirmed that the goal would stand.
Dolcek almost made it three on 53, pouncing on Milne’s defensive header, Mitov away to his left to make another very good save to keep his side just about in the game as United scented blood. Three minutes later, another long throw from Ferry caused chaos in the Aberdeen box, but the ball was eventually blocked behind for a corner.
Sapsford kicked the ball pretty much out of Mitov’s hands in the 59th minute as he was trying to clear his lines, the United man fortunate to not pick up a second booking for dangerous play. Sevelj was inches away from a third goal for the home side, a curling, dipping shot from some 25 yards drifting just wide of the far post in the 62nd minute.
A triple change followed from Aberdeen, Yengi, Aouchiche and Bilalovic coming on for Nisbet, Heltne Nilsen and Polvara in the 67th minute. Knoester took on the armband.
It sparked a better spell for the Dons, Armstrong smacking a shot off the bar in the 72nd minute, Karlsson trying to follow up but only to see his shot blocked by the goalkeeper’s legs. United made their first change a minute later, Iovu making way for Sibbald.
Armstrong got away down the right in the 75th minute, scooping the ball back into the box but fractionally behind Aouchiche. He tried to manufacture an overhead kick at goal but the effort went wide. Fatah was then replaced by Moller.
Karlsson was played through on goal by Aouchiche in the 82nd minute, but he delayed a little to allow United to come across and cover, forcing him into a shot from just inside the area that flew over the bar.
United made their final changes a minute later, Camara and Dolcek replaced by Eskesen and Naamo. Aberdeen’s last change came on 86, Keskinen on for Milanovic. Sevelj could have added a third as we went into five minutes of added time but he put his shot just over the bar from the edge of the box. Moments later, he was booked for a poor challenge. On 93 the Dons forced a corner.
It was half cleared to Emmanuel Gyamfi on the edge of the area, his first time shot spinning wide as Aberdeen went spinning to defeat.
DUNDEE UNITED: Kucherenko, Iovu (Sibbald 74), Esselink, Keresztes, Stephenson, Sevelj, Camara (Eskesen 83), Ferry, Dolcek (Naamo 83), Sapsford, Fatah (Moller 77). Subs not used: Richards, Cleall-Harding, Constable, Strain, Thomson. GOALS: Dolcek (45), Esselink (51) BOOKED: Sapsford, Sevelj.
ABERDEEN: Mitov, Jensen, Knoester, Dorrington (Milne 46), Gyamfi, Heltne Nilsen (Aouchiche 67), Armstrong, Karlsson, Polvara (Bilalovic 67), Milanovic (Keskine 86), Nisbet (Yengi 67). Subs not used: Suman, Shinnie, Palaversa, Molloy. BOOKED: Yengi.
