Tottenham 2
Dundee Utd 0
Friendly (Japan Cup (Final))

Match Report

United were without five first team regulars in this game. Hamish McAlpine, Paul Hegarty, Dave Narey and Raymond Stewart were all at home, and centre-forward Davie Dodds was unable to play because of a leg injury and stomach upset. Derek Addison and Andy Graham both played, but were also suffering from similar sickness trouble to Dodds. John Holt also played despite still not 100% fit following an ankle injury.

A missed penalty - a jinx which haunted United throughout the season - proved the turning point of the game. The Spurs goalkeeper pulled Paul Sturrock down inside the box but Walter Smith saw his spot kick saved nine minutes before half time.Former St Johnstone defender Gordon Smith put the London club ahead in the 55th minute, and Argentinian Osvaldo Ardiles grabbed the second 10 minutes later.

Manager Jim McLean praised his players after the game. "I can't speak too highly of what they have achieved over here. Their performances have been out of this world. I really believed we would have beaten Spurs if we had scored from Walter Smith's first-half penalty. The Spurs keeper, who had watched our previous game on TV, knew where Walter was going to put it and was actually down waiting for the ball to make an easy save. At that time there was no scoring and a goal for us then would have set us up for a win. But the boys still played well and Spurs only got their second goal with four minutes left to play."