Bonnyrigg Rose 1, Dundee 3, Ferguson Park, League Cup Group C, 22nd July 2025

Dundee won this game 3-1 after they were much better in the second half. Dundee started well enough and forced two saves from the Bonnyrigg keeper. Jon McCracken had to save well as the game swung from end to end. 

The Dark Blues were attacking with greater pace and purpose than on Saturday. It was no surprise when they took the lead after 20 minutes. Ryan Astley’s long throw was headed on by Billy Koumetio. The resulting scramble at the far post ended with Clark Robertson forcing the ball over the line from point blank range.

Fin Robertson had a good effort cleared of the line soon after. But Bonnyrigg took full advantage of the escape and went straight up the park to equalise in the 35th minute. Ross showed impressive skill to hold the ball and swing a fine pass out to Kallum Higginbotham in space on the right. The cross was accurate, and Ross stooped to meet it with an equally precise header from 10 yards into McCracken’s bottom corner.

Second half and it was a better Dundee side who took the game to the home sde. Dundee made four substitutions after 63 minutes. Emile Acquah, Imari Samuels, Tony Yogane, and Callum Jones replaced Ash Hay, Ethan Ingram, Fin Robertson and Paul Digby.

The frantic Dundee pressure continued for 20 minutes before the Dark Blues finally broke through after 86 minutes. Imari Samuels flighted over a cross from the left and Acquah headed home neatly at the far post – his first competitive goal for the Dee.

Three minutes later Samuels provided an identical assist for the third goal. This time his free kick allowed Billy Koumetio to score with a powerful header. That was his first Dundee goal too.

That finished the game and gave Dundee a vital win in their poor League Cup games so far this season. 

Dundee: McCracken, Ingram (Samuels 62), Astley, Robertson, Koumetio, Robertson (Yogane 62),  Digby (Jones 62),  Garza, Wright, Hay (Acquah 62), Murray (c). Unused Subs: Sharp, Donnelly, Graham, Galabov, Lopez.

Att: 853 

Referee: Peter Stuart. 

Alloa Athetic 1, Dundee 0, Indodrill Stadium, League Cup Group C, 19th July 2025

In a game that Dundee needed to win they lost 1-0 to Alloa Ath. A pretty poor display from Dundee and it ends our hope of going into the last 16 of the League Cup. 

Going by reports Dundee had a lot of the ball but never looked like scoring. Alloa deserved their win so good luck to them in their final games. The only goal was a own goal from Graham. 

I missed the game due to a family holiday. I will be back home for the game v Montrose at Dens next week.

Dundee : Carson, Wright, Galabov, Graham, Donnelly, Samuels (Hay 68), Digby, Robertson, Yogane ( Ingram 72), Acquah (Lopez 87), Murray (c) Unused Subs: McCracken, Astley, Koumetio, Garza, Allan,  Crombie.

Referee: Don Robertson.

Att: 786

Dundee 0, Airdrie 1, Dens Park, League Cup Group C, 12th July 2025

Dundee started well, but Airdrie forced a early corner which the defence managed to clear. But on 11 minutes they nearly scored when they rattled the bar. 

It was no surprize when Airdrie scored on 20 minutes with a simple goal. For the rest of the half Dundee struggled to finish any moves that they made.

Second half and things got slightly better but they failed to put the ball into the net for at least a vital draw. Airdrie had three efforts on goal but scored the only goal of the game.

Not a good start to the League Cup section and will have to win the next three games and score a few goals to have any chance of going into the knock out stage.

Dundee: Carson, Ingram, (Wright), Astley, Kounetio, Digby, Acquah (Hay), Robertson, Garza, (Samuels), Murray (C), Yogane, Graham, Unused Subs: MCCracken, C Robertson, Donnelly, Galabov, Lopez, Crombie, 

Att: 2,306

I missed the game dut to being on Holiday in America, I can only hope results pick up in the next few week. 

San Diego FC Photos......

 

America Trip......and Football

After Arbroath myself and my family headed to a wee holiday to America. Based just outside San Francisco at Hayward. A trip to San Diego was planned and we were lucky to get to see San Diego FC v Houston Dynamo FC at the Snap Dragon Stadium. 

San Diego 3, Houston Dynamo 4, 05-July-25

San Diego FC returned to Snapdragon Stadium to face Houston Dynamo for Stars and Stripes Night presented by Liberty Military Housing. After 90 minutes of play, the Dynamo defeated SDFC 3-4.

Escondido native, Milan Iloski opened the scoring in the 25th minute for SDFC after midfielder Onni Valakari centered the ball inside the box. Iloski’s header marked his 10th goal for the 2025 MLS Regular Season. In the 36th minute, the Dynamo tied the match 1-1. The first half came to an end with Houston on top 1-2 after scoring in stoppage time.

The second half kicked off with a SDFC goal to tie the match in the 55th minute by defender Luca Bombino, marking his first goal of the season. In the 67th minute, midfielder and All Star, Anders Dreyer tallied another assist as Valakari found the back of the net to put San Diego in the lead 3-2. The Dynamo tied the match in the 87th minute after goalkeeper CJ dos Santos was given a yellow card, giving Houston’s Ezequiel Ponce a penalty kick. In the 100th minute, the Dynamo scored to defeat San Diego 3-4.

It was a great night out and my boys loved it, we had pizza and good snacks before the game. And not forgetting a cool beer for myself. The crowd was 28,321 and everyone was nice and friendly.

Brechin City 0 Dundee 3, Glebe Park, Friendly,

Dundee rounded off their pre-season friendly campaign with a straightforward 3-0 win away to Brechin City. The Dark Blues fielded two completely different teams in each half but were always comfortably in control. The first half Dee won 2-0 and the second half team won 1-0. Simon Murray put the Dark Blues ahead from the penalty spot in the second minute and then Emile Acquah scored with a cheeky finish. The second half team kept up the pressure on the hosts and Mexican trialist Jose Urias completed the scoring with a late goal.

Dundee: Trevor Carson, Ethan Ingram, Ryan Astley, Billy Koumetio, Luke Graham, Finlay Robertson, Paul Digby, Ethan Crombie, Tony Yogane, Simon Murray (c), Emile Acquah

2nd half : Jon McCracken, Drey Wright, Plamen Galabov, Clark Robertson, Aaron Donnelly, trialist Oscar Soto, Cesar Garza, Imari Samuels, trialist Jose Urias, Chespi Lopez, trialist Jorge Landeros. Unused Subs :  Harry Sharp (gk), Tobi Davies-Browne, Ashton Leiper. 

Referee: Stewart Luke.