FT: Dundee United 1 Rangers 3

By Sean FTD
September 1 2003

Rangers needed two late goals to secure a 3-1 win over Dundee United and regain their place at the top of the table from Celtic.

Nuno Capucho had given them an early lead but former Ibrox hero Billy Dodds netted an 82nd minute equaliser before Shota Arveladze and Mikel Arteta replied with even later clinchers, the latter from the penalty spot.

This was the start of the post-Barry Ferguson era for Rangers but his replacement - Emerson - began on the bench. Henning Berg and Michael Ball were also missing so in came Bob Malcolm, Paolo Vanoli and Capucho to the starting line-up.

The latter had featured only occasionally since his summer transfer from Porto, with a lack of match fitness the reason given. But he was sharp enough to accept a free gift in the 14th minute and open his account for his new employers.

Ronald de Boer's ball gave Michael Mols space on the left of the box and he was able to cut the ball back from the byline to present the Portuguese winger with a simple finish.

Home goalkeeper Tony Bullock, who was making his debut, had been taken out of the equation by Mols on that occasion but the former Barnsley goalkeeper had thwarted him and de Boer twice before the break.

Mols then headed a good opportunity wide from close range before Capucho almost caught Bullock out with a ball over the top that home defender Alan Archibald had failed to cut out, the ball rolling just past a post.

In the 58th minute Stefan Klos was finally called into action and had to make a quality save to deny Charlie Miller. Colin Samuel, with his back to the goal, had chested the ball down and the ex-Rangers player's shot reared up viciously off the turf before being tipped over.

Rangers sent on Emerson for Capucho and within seconds Derek McInnes had been booked for a foul on Vanoli. United then sent Jason Scotland on for fellow Trinidadian Samuel.

United manager Ian McCall had one last trick up his sleeve and, with seven minutes remaining, it worked instantly as Dodds netted with his first touch of the game, a header on the run from a Scotland delivery, just seconds after replacing Robson.

Rangers were stunned but Arveladze provided the ideal response. Thompson headed on an Emerson cross and the Georgian met it superbly on the turn to volley past the helpless Bullock.

That had come in the 86th minute and with a minute remaining Arteta clinched victory from the penalty spot after Innes had impeded Mols.