Unirea Urziceni 1 Dundee United 0

Dundee United went down to a narrow defeat to Romanian side Unirea Urziceni in their opening pre-season fixture in Austria.

The only goal of the contest arrived as early as the ninth minute when Marius Onofras controlled a ball over the top from Dinu Todoran and fired beyond Steve Banks.

Most of the Arabs' best opportunities arose before the break. David Goodwillie had a lob ruled out for offside and also drove straight at Unirea goalkeeper Catalin Grigore, while Jon Daly went close with a header from a fine Keith Watson cross.

However, Onofras was denied a second just before half-time as Banks turned away his angled shot.

Manager Peter Houston made multiple changes after the interval, which included German striker Andis Shala appearing at centre-back.

But it was Craig Conway and Francisco Sandaza swiftly linking up for Morgaro Gomis to drill an effort at the keeper and Paul Dixon also tried his luck from distance.

Meanwhile, new goalkeeper Filip Mentel was forced to turn aside a Razavan Paduretu shot from his top corner just before the hour at the other end.

Dundee United (first-half): Banks, Watson, Hill, Kenneth, Douglas, Myrie-Williams, S. Robertson, Swanson, Dow, Goodwillie, Daly

Dundee United (second-half): Mentel, D. Robertson, Dillon, Shala, Dixon, Cadamarteri, Buaben, Gomis, Conway, Casalinuovo, Sandaza

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