Aberdeen 4-0 Dundee Utd
Irvine 11’, Paatelainen (OG) 37’, van der Hoorn (OG) 59’, Gilhaus 85’
April 14th 1990, Tynecastle
It was the year you could find Paul Daniels on the TV along with Pingu, Modonna’s Vogue was holding back competition from the Happy Mondays in the charts, and a Lothar Mathaus inspired West Germany would lift the World Cup in Italy – the one where Baggio carried the expectations of a nation and Frank Rijkaard’s spit clung to Rudi Voller’s perm.
It’s 1990 and Aberdeen are still a force in Scottish Football, led by co-managers Alex Smith and Jocky Scott.
One of the most important games of the season was the Scottish Cup semi-final against Dundee United, which the Dons would win at a canter after goals from Brian Irvine and Hans Gillhaus either side of OGs by Mixu Paatelainen and Fred van der Hoorn.
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The 90s would eventually see the fall of Aberdeen as the matriarch of Scottish football. By the turn of the century the Dons would slide to mid-table strife, but in the first half of the decade Aberdeen were still a powerful force in Scotland, regularly splitting the Old Firm and still making forays into Europe.
Fergie was long gone – at the time he was coming through his early struggles at Man Utd and would lead the club to its first bit of silverware under his illustrious tenure (the 1990 FA Cup).
Ferguson’s success on the North East coast would try to be replicated by Archie Knox and Ian Porterfield, but it wasn’t until Alex Smith and Jocky Scott got together four seasons after Ferguson’s departure that the duo led Aberdeen to their first pieces of silverware post Fergie, winning the Scottish Cup and League Cup by the end of the year.
For Dundee United, they were also a powerhouse in Scottish football at the time. The Tangerines regularly found their place nearer the top half of the Premiership, with five T4 finishes in a row.
The occasion was even more special as United were led by Jim McLean at the time, their greatest and longest serving manager .
If you add up McLean and previous manager Jerry Kerr’s tenures at United, they would equal more games than all the other managers in the club’s history combined.
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For the semi-final in 1990 Aberdeen lined up with Theo Snelders in goal. A backline of David Robertson, Stuart McKimmie, Alex McLeish and Brian Irvine. Brian Grant, Bobby Connor, Jim Bett and Paul Mason in midfield. With a sprinkle of celebrity from the continent in Hans Gilhaus partnering former Arsenal striker Charlie Nicholas up front.
Dundee United were supposed to be no pushovers, finishing fourth in the league that season, but the Tangerines had a nightmare of a tie, succumbing tamely to the Dons.
Brian Irvine would open the scoring in just over ten minutes.
Charlie Nicholas found space in the box and his driven ball was turned in by the knee of Irvine from practically under Alan Main’s crossbar.
Aberdeen’s second goal came after good pressure from the Dons, who would work the ball to the left wing where Jim Bett was waiting. Bett hung a cross into the back post for Irvine to attack and his pressure in behind a wondering Mixu Paatelainen caused the Finn to nod the ball into his own net.
The next goal was something more fitting in the Cirque du Soleil rather than a football pitch in Scotland.
David Robertson, marauding forward, stumbled some sort of cross come shot out of his feet, which went in the vague direction of Paul Mason who was charging in.
The Englishman’s pressure on Fred van der Hoorn caused the Dutchman to snatch at the ball which flew of his boot and looped over the head of a hapless Main in the United goal.
Looking back at video highlights of the game, the hair styles and fashion feel as much a thing of the past as the supporters that thronged the stands of Tynecastle.
Over sixteen thousand supporters squeezed into the stadium, giving an electric atmosphere to the game which will not be replicated at Hampden this coming weekend as the government holds firm on not allowing supporters into grounds.
The final goal was something of class.
Stuart McKimmie’s first time cross field ball was plucked out the heavens by Hans Gilhaus who turned his marker inside out then finished with a powerful strike across Main to seal Aberdeen’s fourth goal and complete the rout.
Football supporters, like the players, can be a superstitious breed, and in turning the form guide and stats inside out before Sunday’s game to try find something that will give credence to the idea that their team will win – the Don’s would go on to meet Celtic in the final that season and beat the Wedgian Giants 9-8 on penalties.
I think Dons supporters would be happy with that result come Sunday evening.
Celtic v Aberdeen, Scottish Cup semi-final, Hampden, Sunday 1st Nov, KO 2:30pm
Harry Jamshid Reporter Sports Pages 