Vllaznia Shkodër 0
Dundee 2
UEFA Cup (Qualifying Round 1st Leg)

Match Report

Steve Lovell and Nacho Novo scored the goals as Dundee won the first leg of their UEFA Cup qualifying round against KS Vllaznia to bring the Dark Blues their first win in the competition since they beat AC Milan 2-0 at Dens in 1971.

On that occasion the result wasn't enough to ensure progression in the competition with Dundee having lost the first leg in the San Siro 3-0, but there should be no doubt about Jim Duffy's team heading for the first round draw after an excellent display in Shkoder.

Wearing their new European strip of dark blue shirts and light blue shorts, this was Dundee at their best so far under Duffy. Indeed perhaps as good a display as any seen since the early seventies, it was a totally professional performance from the Dens men which had the hundred or so travelling support in ecstasy.

It's been warm in Scotland recently, but the heat in the Loro Borici Stadium was something else, and Dundee's new found high level of fitness showed itself again after they had bossed Motherwell at the weekend.

From the start they were in about Vllaznia who appeared to spend the early part of the match in cautious mode as they sized up the Dees. They soon found out that Dundee were classy opponents but they never managed to get the measure of Barry Smith and his team mates as a corner count of double figures for Dundee as opposed to two for Vllaznia amply illustrated.

Although the first chance on goal fell to KS Vllaznia, Bledar Mansaku's long-range shot saved without fuss by Julian Speroni, Dundee thereafter took control, and spent the rest of the first half contriving to miss chances, thanks to a combination of some defiant defending by the home side and no measure of good fortune.

Lovell might easily have struck with 26 minutes gone when he rose unchallenged to meet a Jonay Hernandez cross only to see his header clear the bar with ease.

Then Nacho Novo should have capitalised on Bledar Devolli's failure to cut out a Garry Brady pass which left the Spaniard with only keeper Armir Grimaj to beat. Unfortunately, Novo shot straight at Grimaj and Lovell dragged his attempt to net from the rebound across goal and wide of the far post.

Next, it was Jonay Hernandez to have a go. Indeed, he had two bites at the cherry after Armir Grimaj, under pressure from Lovell, spilled a Brady cross.

Hernandez's initial effort and then a second from the rebound, however, were blocked by the keeper.

It has to be said that Dundee looked more like the home side than their hosts, but the Albanians finally sparked into attacking life with a sudden flurry of activity around Speroni's goal.

First, Mansaku's header which was destined for the top corner was superbly tipped over by Speroni, while the keeper was simply grateful to watch Sokol Ishaka's effort from the resultant corner clear his bar. Thereafter, he was virtually restricted to the role of spectator, but at least there were two goals for him to savour - at the other end.

Heeding that warning, the Dark Blues raced upfield where Lovell, released by a fantastic Georgi Nemsadze through ball, slotted low past Grimaj with two minutes of the half remaining.

And three minutes after the re-start, the tie was effectively over as Gavin Rae pounced on to the loose ball after seeing his shot blocked and fed Brady whose low cross was turned in by Nacho Novo.

That may have ended the scoring, but not all the incident. It could have been three when substitute keeper Arjon Mustafa - on for the injured Grimaj - and defender Hamdi Salihi got their wires crossed and Salihi had to poke the ball out for a corner to stop Lovell from cashing in.

Late on Novo should have made it three after turning Teli inside the area, but Mustafa denied him with his feet.

There was a scare late on as Vllaznia tried to recover a degree of pride and Speroni spilled a Mansaku shot.

To his relief the ball came back to him off the base of his right-hand upright leaving him to remember the match only for the best of reasons.

Match report written by Dundee Matchday Programme