ROSS COUNTY...2 MOTHERWELL...3
(AFTER EXTRA-TIME)
YOUNG Ross MacLean’s ice-cool finish in extra-time sealed a dramatic place for ten-man Motherwell in the Betfred Cup last eight.
The 20-year-old tore through the Highlanders’ defence to grab the Steelmen’s third of a pulsating evening in Dingwall.
On a night of ragged, tireless football, the 2016 winners crashed out despite seeing Charles Dunne sent off for the visitors and after twice clawing their way back into the match.
Gael Bigirimana had put Motherwell in front early in the second half only for Alex Schalk to level after 65 minutes.
Chris Cadden then restored the visitors’ advantage two minutes into extra-time but Craig Curran equalised from the penalty spot after 104 minutes. Even though Dunne was dismissed for conceding the spot-kick, Motherwell still secured a home clash with Aberdeen after MacLean struck in the 112th minute.
‘It was a tough game and to come out with a win in those circumstances is fantastic,’ said Motherwell manager Stephen Robinson.
‘I didn’t necessarily think we’d blown it going down to ten men because I know what the character is like in our dressing room.
‘It was definitely a penalty but not a red card — he made a genuine attempt to win the ball — so we’ll appeal that.
‘But to come back and show that kind of spirit and togetherness is superb.
‘We have a home draw against Aberdeen and it’s a fantastic chance to reach the semi-final.’
Schalk failed to convert the chance of the first half when Jamie Lindsay’s cut-back set him up five yards from goal. His strike was too straight and keeper Trevor Carson pulled off a brilliant block.
The breakthrough came five minutes into the second half. A surging, twisting run from Cadden ended with a cross onto the head of Louis Moult.
He knocked the ball sideways and there was Bigirimana racing in to beat Scott Fox from eight yards.
Schalk levelled when he raced onto a through pass from Jim O’Brien and lofted a 12-yard shot past Carson into the top of the net.
Michael Gardyne spared County with ten minutes left as he headed an Alex Fisher attempt off the line.
Cadden took just three minutes of extra-time to restore Motherwell’s lead.
From Fisher’s cross, Dunne’s header smacked the bar but dropped near the right-hand post for Cadden to force home.
County dragged themselves back into it for 2-2 when Dunne was red-carded for fouling Curran on the goal-line and the Liverpudlian netted the penalty himself.
Motherwell weren’t beaten, though, and MacLean raced onto a Cedric Kipre through pass to beat Fox for the clincher.
Carson pulled off a brilliant late save to preserve the lead, parrying at point-blank range from Lindsay.
ROSS COUNTY (4-4-1-1): Fox; Naismith, Fraser, Davies, Kelly; Dow (Curran 71), Lindsay, Chow (O’Brien 13), Gardyne; Routis (Keillor-Dunn 98); Schalk (Mikkelsen 100). Subs not used: McCarey, Van der Weg, Tumilty. Booked: Dow. MOTHERWELL (4-5-1): Carson; Tait, Kipre, Heneghan, Dunne; Cadden, Bigirimana (MacLean 85), McHugh, Rose (Plummer 104), Tanner (Fisher 56); Moult (Bowman 85). Subs not used: Griffiths, McMillan, MacLean, Gordon. Booked: Heneghan, MacLean. Sent off: Dunne. Referee: Stephen Finnie. Man of the match: Chris Cadden.