Plymouth 0-1 Dundee United

Aug 3 2008 Robert Thomson At Home Park

SIZZLING Francisco Sandaza again showed Arabs fans what an asset he can be by netting the goal that beat the Pilgrims. The Spaniard came on at half-time to replace Jon Daly after Plymouth had enjoyed the better of the play.

And within two minutes Sandaza had steered the ball beyond sub keeper Graham Stack.

United's large support acclaimed Tannadice legend Paul Sturrock, who is suffering from Parkinson's disease, before kick-off - but as they left the name of their new signing from Valencia was on their lips.

Even though Luggy is the link to both clubs the goodwill did not extend to the pitch and both sides immediately charged at each other eager to sign off their pre-season campaigns on a high.

United almost went a goal behind in eight minutes when ex-St Mirren and Livi star David McNamee whipped a dangerous cross into their box. But striker Rory Fallon clipped a shot over the bar from four yards.

The Tangerines were finding it hard to cope with the trickery of winger Jamie Mackie who skinned Danny Grainger in 24 minutes before squaring the ball for Gary Sawyer whose strike was blocked by skipper Lee Wilkie.

United's first chance came in 34 minutes when Scott Robertson superbly played Warren Feeney in on goal but he scuffed his shot into Romain Larrieu's hands.

The keeper had a scare a minute later when the impressive Prince Buaben fired a shot in from the edge of the box but although Larrieu was beaten the ball just zipped past a post.

United keeper Lukasz Zaluska was called in to action in 37 minutes, diving to his right to brilliantly turn away a header by home skipper Krisztian Timar.

United boss Craig Levein replaced Daly with Sandaza at the break and within two minutes the Spanish sensation had scored.

The striker looks an out-and-out finisher and again showed this by quickly latching on to Feeney's threaded ball inside before whipping a shot past sub Stack into the bottom corner.

Sandaza showed his poacher's instinct again in 68 minutes when he latched on to loose ball with his back to goal, spun and shot - forcing the home No.1 to make a reflex save with his body.

United's 23-year-old new boy should have added a second with nine minutes left but kicked the ground and watched his attempt slip wide.

team sheet

PLYMOUTH: Larrieu (Stack 46), Duguid, Paterson (Puncheon 58), Timar (Seip 65), Easter, Doumbe, Fallon (MacLean 65), McNamee, Sawyer (Clark 62), Summerfield (Folly 72), Mackie. All subs used.

DUNDEEUTD: Zaluska, Dillon, Wilkie (Kovacevic 72), Dods, Grainger, Flood, Robertson, Buaben (Swanson 81), Gomis, Daly (Sandaza 46), Feeney (Shala 90). Subs: Robertson, Dixon, McCord, McGovern.