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Daniels' header on debut gives Dons lead

Morris nods leveller for United

Ciftci seals League Cup final place

Nadir Ciftci delivered the decisive finish that sent Dundee United into the Scottish League Cup final.

The striker scored with six minutes remaining, his header proving to be enough to subdue Aberdeen.

United, whose Stuart Armstrong had hit the Dons' crossbar, had to come from behind, with Donervon Daniels scoring the opener just after the interval.

Callum Morris equalised with a header, setting up a tense finish between two well-matched sides.

The weight of expectation seemed to be a burden at first.

A keenly contested game had been anticipated - between two sides who are strong, assured and capable of devilish intent in attack - but the opening half was mostly restrained.

The tempo lacked an edge and so the play tended to be ponderous. It was as if both teams felt that the occasion warranted caution.

David Goodwillie, so often a decisive player in the final third, often reacted with doubt when the final pass opened up and his display was undermined by poor decision making at key moments.

Stout defending became the theme of the first half. Daniels, on loan from West Brom, was a compelling figure on his debut. Tall and powerful, he looked susceptible to pace and was often the last line of defence for Aberdeen, but every intervention was heartfelt.

When the centre-back cleared straight to Armstrong, the midfielder took a touch to carry the ball into the area, but his shot was then blocked by Daniels hurling his body at the ball.

Similar resolve was required in the United area before the interval, with Ryan McGowan blocking Peter Pawlett's shot then Sean Dillon doing the same after Goodwillie gathered the rebound and drilled an effort towards goal.

Donervon Daniels celebrates his headed goal for Aberdeen on his debut

The stoicism was admirable. Quality tended to be peripheral, although Armstrong did curl one shot on goal that Simon Brown had to leap up to tip on to the crossbar.

The game was at least as even as had been expected, but greater ambition eventually allowed the two teams to be separated.

It was Aberdeen who started the second half with more impetus and attacking intent. The reward was a period of pressure in the United half and Andrew Considine eventually had an opportunity to deliver a long throw into the area.

As he prepared to deliver the ball, Derek McInnes instructed Daniels to run into the area and so the defender was in place to flick the ball over Radoslaw Cierzniak and into the far corner of the net.

Aberdeen were enlivened and Daniels soon had another effort cleared off the line. Pawlett also drew a commanding save from Cierzniak after being released by Goodwillie. Even so, United were not forlorn competitors.

A set-piece provided their opportunity to strike back and Callum Morris rose powerfully to head Gary Mackay-Steven's corner into the net. The two goalscorers were involved together in the United area moments later, when Morris blocked Daniels' shot; the two defenders then shared a handshake.

The game turned into an end-to-end contest. Cierzniak tipped Ryan Jack's shot over; Mark Reynolds cleared Ryan Dow's effort off the line; Goodwillie's downward header from close range sent the ball bouncing over the bar.

There was a relentlessness to the play, but there was still room for a moment of clarity.

When Paul Paton delivered a cross into the area, Ciftci - who had been quiet throughout - glanced a header beyond Brown's despairing reach. It was enough to seal the victory and United's passage to the cup final.

Donervon Daniels scores with a header that loops over United keeper Radoslaw Cierzniak

Callum Morris powered in a header to pull United level after an hour of play at Hampden

Nadir Ciftci scores the winner for Dundee United with six minutes remaining