Match ends, Motherwell 0, Dundee United 2.
MotherwellMotherwell0Dundee UtdDundee United2
Two late Dundee United goals condemned Motherwell to defeat at Fir Park.
A moment of agony for Louis Laing gave United an 83rd-minute lead, the defender slicing into his own net following a low cross from Paul Dixon.
Substitute Simon Murray sealed United's first win of the season on the counter attack after Well goalkeeper Connor Ripley had gone upfield for a corner.
Both sides had passed up a multitude of chances before Laing's mis-hit broke the deadlock in the second half.
United join Motherwell on three points two weeks into the campaign.
Motherwell, who replaced the injured Stephen Pearson with Jack Leitch, began brightly and Marvin Johnson's shot from the edge of the area had to be touched round a post by goalkeeper Luis Zwick.
After a promising start, the match got bogged down into a midfield battle until a stunning effort from United midfielder Scott Fraser. His high, fizzing shot from around 18 yards looked a certain goal but was brilliantly saved by Ripley.
The visitors, who had striker Darko Bodul making his first start, claimed unsuccessfully for a penalty after Joe Chalmers handled, with referee Bobby Madden seeming to accept it was ball-to-hand.
With half-time nearing, Charlie Telfer stung the palms of Ripley from 20 yards and, after the break, the keeper again denied the United attacker.
Johnson was then through one-on-one on Zwick's goal but the German made the block.
Chalmers should have scored after getting on the end of a cross but he fired over, much to the anguish of the home crowd.
A spot-kick appeal for the home side followed when a shot from substitute Dom Thomas appeared to strike the hand of John Souttar but, again, Madden was not interested.
Motherwell replacement Louis Moult had a header tipped over by Zwick and, at the other end, substitute Aidan Connolly's fierce drive was batted away by Ripley.
But a goal was in the offing as Dixon sent in a fizzing cross and Laing erroneously swiped the ball past Ripley.
The keeper joined his team-mates for a stoppage-time corner but United broke and Murray was able to apply the finishing touch into the empty net from 12 yards.
Line-ups
Motherwell
Formation 4-4-1-1
- 1RipleyBooked at 90mins
- 18Law
- 5Laing
- 6McManus
- 3HammellBooked at 89mins
- 15ChalmersSubstituted forThomasat 66'minutes
- 14Lasley
- 21LeitchBooked at 64minsSubstituted forClarksonat 80'minutes
- 11Johnson
- 77McDonald
- 9FletcherSubstituted forMoultat 63'minutes
Substitutes
- 12Twardzik
- 16Kennedy
- 19Clarkson
- 20Moult
- 23Thomas
- 26Cadden
- 27Ferguson
Dundee Utd
Formation 4-1-4-1
- 51Zwick
- 12McGowan
- 28Donaldson
- 17Durnan
- 3Dixon
- 4Souttar
- 22FraserBooked at 90mins
- 11ErskineSubstituted forMurrayat 79'minutesBooked at 90mins
- 16TelferSubstituted forMuirheadat 71'minutes
- 20Spittal
- 30BodulSubstituted forConnollyat 73'minutes
Substitutes
- 2Dillon
- 8Rankin
- 10Muirhead
- 13McCallum
- 15Murray
- 18Connolly
- 32Lochhead
- Referee:
- Bobby Madden
- Attendance:
- 4,859
Match Stats
Home TeamMotherwellAway TeamDundee Utd
- Possession
- Home52%
- Away48%
- Shots
- Home8
- Away9
- Shots on Target
- Home6
- Away7
- Corners
- Home7
- Away5
- Fouls
- Home16
- Away10
Live Text
Post update
Full Time
Second Half ends, Motherwell 0, Dundee United 2.
Goal!
Goal! Motherwell 0, Dundee United 2. Simon Murray (Dundee United) right footed shot from the centre of the box to the high centre of the goal. Assisted by Aidan Connolly.
Post update
Corner, Motherwell. Conceded by Ryan McGowan.
Booking
Scott Fraser (Dundee United) is shown the yellow card.
Post update
Foul by Josh Law (Motherwell).
Post update
Aidan Connolly (Dundee United) wins a free kick on the left wing.
Booking
Connor Ripley (Motherwell) is shown the yellow card for a bad foul.
Post update
Foul by Connor Ripley (Motherwell).
Post update
Aidan Connolly (Dundee United) wins a free kick in the defensive half.
Booking
Steven Hammell (Motherwell) is shown the yellow card.
Post update
Blair Spittal (Dundee United) wins a free kick in the defensive half.
Post update
Foul by Steven Hammell (Motherwell).
Post update
Foul by Scott McDonald (Motherwell).
Post update
John Souttar (Dundee United) wins a free kick in the attacking half.
Goal!
Own Goal by Louis Laing, Motherwell. Motherwell 0, Dundee United 1.
Post update
Foul by Keith Lasley (Motherwell).
Post update
Robbie Muirhead (Dundee United) wins a free kick in the defensive half.
Post update
Attempt saved. Aidan Connolly (Dundee United) left footed shot from the left side of the box is saved in the bottom left corner.
Post update
Attempt saved. Aidan Connolly (Dundee United) right footed shot from the left side of the box is saved in the bottom left corner.
