There was late, late drama at Stark’s Park as Dundee began their Betfred Cup campaign with a victory against Raith Rovers.
The Dark Blues opened the scoring through new signing Sofien Moussa before Rovers hit an equaliser right at the end of normal time.
However, just seconds later, Dundee netted what proved to be the winner with centre-half Jack Hendry breaking Rovers hearts.
Raith boss Barry Smith made just one change from the side that was beaten by Dundee United at Tannadice on Saturday with Yaw Osei coming in for the injured Bobby Barr.
There was a return to the Dundee starting line-up for skipper Darren O’Dea who missed last Friday night’s friendly against Bolton.
International clearance had also come through for Moussa, who took his place on the bench.
The Dark Blues playing in red started brightly knocking the ball about well on an immaculate Stark’s Park surface.
McCann’s men had a half chance in just the fifth minute when Raith’s Iain Davidson was short with a back pass with home keeper Aaron Lennox having to race out to clear before Scott Allan could pounce.
Lennox had to look lively again shortly after to smother a shot from a tight angle by Dundee’s Randy Wolters.
Raith finally tested Dark Blues keeper Scott Bain in the 17th minute when Liam Buchanan tried his luck with a long-range shot but the keeper easily gathered.
Rovers had an even better opportunity seven minutes later when Greig Spence teed up Lewis Vaughan but the striker scuffed his shot and Bain made a comfortable save.
As the half-hour mark came and went, the game became a scrappy affair with both sides struggling for fluency.
However, the encounter sparked into life once again in the 39th minute when Buchanan shot on the turn but his effort was too straight at Bain.
Dundee hit back straight away when Wolters struck a cracking drive from inside the Rovers penalty box which crashed back off the junction of the post and bar with Lennox well beaten.
The Dark Blues’ Faissal El Bakhtaoui then had two bites at the cherry but his first shot was blocked and his second was saved by Lennox with the game still goal-less as the sides headed down the tunnel at the break.
Shortly after the restart, Dundee’s Roarie Deacon struck a speculative shot from the edge of the Raith box but it flew over Lennox’s bar.
Rovers then passed up a great opportunity when Buchanan sent a shot wide when he should really have hit the target following some good football by the home side.
There was a flashpoint in the 61st minute when Dundee sub Paul McGowan reacted angrily to what he deemed was a stray elbow from Raith skipper Ross Callachan but referee Stephen Finnie stepped in to calm the situation.
Soon after, Dark Blues’ defender Kevin Holt pulled off an outstanding last-ditch tackle as Spence looked to pull the trigger with the goal at his mercy.
McCann then threw on Moussa and the striker came agonisingly close to making an instant impact when he was set up by McGowan but the big front man just could not get a decent connection on the ball and the chance was lost.
In the 76th minute, Raith had another opportunity when Euan Murray swung a cross into the Dundee box from the left with Spence’s powerful header being deflected for a corner.
However, the deadlock was finally broken in the 83rd minute when Allan flighted a free-kick in from the left with Moussa controlling the ball with his back to goal before hitting a shot on the turn which flew high past Lennox.
Raith though, were not done just yet and in the 90th minute they equalised when Vaughan hit a stunning shot from 12 yards that flew past the helpless Bain.
The game looked to be heading for penalties but in the second minute of stoppage time, Hendry rose highest to head home an Allan cross to secure the winner for Dundee.
Attendance – 2,962.
Raith Rovers – Lennox, Thomson, Callachan, Murray, Benedictus, Spence (Court, 79), Robertson, Buchanan, Vaughan, Davidson, Osei (Matthews, 67).
Subs not used – Brian, McKay, Berry, Thorsen, Valentine.
Dundee – Bain, Kerr, Holt, O’Dea (Waddell, 81), Kamara, Allan, O’Hara (McGowan, 56), El Bakhtaoui, Deacon, Hendry, Wolters (Moussa, 70).
Subs not used – Ferrie, Williams, Spence, Wighton, Waddell.
Referee – Stephen Finnie.
