St Mirren beat Kilmarnock to enter Scottish Cup semis, Rangers crash out
GLASGOW: Kyle Mcallister scored the deciding spot-kick as St Mirren beat Kilmarnock 5-4 in a penalty shootout to book a place in the semifinals of the Scotish Cup, ater the match had ended 3-3 ater 120 minutes.
On a dramatic night, a mistake by Killie ‘keeper Colin Doyle in the 25th minute at Rugby Park allowed a harmless cross from Ilkay Durmus to go through his hands, according to Skysports report.
However, the visitors failed to capitalise on their good fortune and a header from loan defender Zeno Ibsen Rossi in the 36th minute and a Greg Kiltie strike just before the break gave the hosts the interval lead.
Kilmarnock, without injured in-form striker Kyle Lafferty, had several chances to go further ahead but with six minutes remaining Buddies skipper Joe Shaughnessy headed in a dramatic equaliser to set up extra-time, where Killie played a big chunk of it with 10 men ater substitute Nicke Kabamba limped off with the Ayrshire side having used all four substitutes.
Earlier, Rangers hopes of a Scotish Premiership and Cup double were ended in dramatic fashion as St Johnstone goalkeeper Zander Clark was a hero in both boxes to earn a shock quarterfinal win on penalties ater a 1-1 draw on Sunday.
Clark had kept Steven Gerrard’s men at bay for 116 minutes at Ibrox until James Tavernier finally opened the scoring.
But the Saints stopper made his presence felt in the Rangers box in stoppage time at the end of extra-time as his header was turned in by
Chris Kane to take the tie to spot-kicks.
Clarke then saved from Tavernier and Kemar Roofe in the shootout, while League Cup winners St Johnstone converted their four penalties to progress.
“I can’t believe it. There have been so many times this season when I’ve thought about going up and looked at the bench and they said ‘no’,” said Clarke.
“This was all or nothing. I’m devastated not to score - but I’m delighted we’ve won.”
Dundee United thrashed Aberdeen 3-0 at Pitodrie to book their place in the semi-finals thanks to a double from Marc Mcnulty either side of Ryan Edwards’s header.
Hibs edged out Motherwell on penalties ater a 2-2 draw on Saturday, while the final place in the last four will be decided on Monday when Kilmarnock take on St Mirren.