SUPER SAINTS WIN DRAMATIC SHOOTOUT TO SEAL CUP SPOT
Buddies triumph over Killie after quarter-final penalty thriller
KILMARNOCK..................................................................3 ST MIRREN........................................................................3
* AET, St Mirren win 5-4 on penalties
A flawless penalty shootout display fired Saints into a Scottish Cup semi- final tie against St Johnstone following a night of high drama in Ayrshire.
Jim Goodwin’s men - and their fans watching from home - were put through the ringer as a six-goal thriller extended through extra time and into penalties.
But the Paisley players held their nerve to bury all five efforts from the spot and book their place in the final four.
Saints took an early lead thanks to Ilkay Durmus, but Zeno Ibsen Rossi and Greg Kiltie ensured the hosts went into half-time ahead.
Joe Shaughnessy was the hero with seven minutes to go as he headed the tie into extra-time.
Killie were forced to play the final 25 minutes with 10 men when Nicke Kabamba was taken off due to injury and Killie had used all of their substitutes.
Even with the extra man, St Mirren found themselves behind when a Ross Millen penalty looked set to see Killie go through.
But Jamie McGrath’s 119th minute penalty was enough to send it to spot-kicks.
The visitors had the first chance just three minutes in when former Killie hitman Lee Erwin’s cross fizzed across the goal, but it was missed by Kristian Dennis and Ilkay Durmus.
Mitch Pinnock carried the ball into the box from the wing for the hosts, but his wild shot went well over the crossbar leaving Jak Alnwick worry-free.
Saints youngster Jay Henderson went close in the 13th minute when he latched on to a cross, but his effort was well blocked.
Greg Kiltie tried his luck from distance in the 19th minute with a powerful effort, but he couldn’t quite direct it on target as it fell wide of the post.
It took 24 minutes for the deadlock to be broken and it came via the visitors who took the lead thanks to Durmus after his shot was fumbled in by Killie goalkeeper Colin