"Sloppy" Dundee United still have work to do if they are to win a first European tie in 28 years after ekeing out a narrow victory over UNA Strassen at an ebullient Tannadice, says manager Jim Goodwin.

Zac Sapsford's debut goal just after the break separates the sides in the Conference League qualifier, the Australian striker flicking through a defender's legs and slapping in a low finish to break down the compact visitors from Luxembourg.

The swollen Tannadice crowd of more than 11,000 exploded in a riot of colour and noise. The last time they saw their side score in a European tie here was against AZ Alkmaar three years ago. Perhaps best we don't talk about what happened next...

Strassen are nowhere near the level of the Dutch side, but United manager Goodwin had cautioned they would still provide a stiff test.

And so it proved as a Premiership side showcasing seven new signings from the start - nine in all - struggled to break them down.

Vicko Sevelj twice went close, Krisztian Keresztes had a header saved, Owen Stirton's shot was pushed on to a post, and Panutche Camara was thwarted late on, but Sapsford's goal is the only one United will take to Differdange next Thursday.

"We've left a couple of goals out there at least," Goodwin said. "At 1-0 it's still very much game on. I would certainly rather be sitting here with a three-goal advantage.

"I don't mean to sound all doom and gloom I'm just a little bit disappointed we didn't make the tie a little bit more comfortable for ourselves."

Still, United travel knowing that a clean sheet will set up a third qualifying round meeting with - most likely - Rapid Vienna and earn them a first two-legged European triumph in six attempts since crushing Principat of Andorra 17-0 in 1997.

United started without a Scot in their XI for the first time in a competitive fixture.

All 11 players brought to Tannadice so far this summer are non-native, with those inside the club suggesting they have been priced out of any domestic player that might improve them.

Markets such as Hungary, Ukraine and Croatia offer more value, they believe.

Whether they offer better quality will become clear, but on this evidence, Goodwin has recruited technically adroit and physically impressive players.

Not so much who, as what. United this season are a far more physically imposing and athletic side than they were last term.

Bert Esselink was perhaps the standout among the new signings, the Dutch centre-back marrying composure with decent passing range.

Hungarian Keresztes alongside him looks like he is from a similar mould, while the third new centre-back, Moldovan Iurie Iova, was unflustered and commanding.

That trio protected Ukrainian goalkeeper Yevhenii Kucherenko, who had a couple of perfunctory stops to make and gave notice of his penchant for charging from goal to claim high balls regardless of the likeliness of him reaching them.

Ghanaian Isaac Pappoe looked to be playing well within himself in central midfield, while Croat winger Ivan Dolcek struggled to impact on the game. Both were removed and may need a little more time to reach peak fitness.

Sapsford had yet to score in pre-season, but his hard graft was rewarded with a fine goal. He has a fearsome task to emulate last season's top scorer Sam Dalby, but this is a promising start.

Camara gambolled around to good effect, but another substitute endured a less enjoyable debut, with Max Watters being removed just eight minutes after coming on following a heavy challenge.

The sides reconvene in Differdange next Thursday (18:00 BST), with the winners most likely visiting Rapid - who United beat away goals in European Cup quarter-finals in 1983-84 - a week later.

The Austrian side lead Decic after their first leg in Montenegro.

United start their league campaign at Falkirk on Sunday, 3 August (14:00).