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Motherwell progressed in the UEFA Europa League on penalties, after being pegged back from two goals up at Coleraine.

Callum Lang and Tony Watt appeared to have the Scots with one foot in the third qualifying round. But a second half penalty double from Ben Doherty took the game to extra time and eventually spot kicks.

Trevor Carson would then ultimately prove the hero, keeping all three of Coleraine’s efforts out to send the Steelmen through.

Motherwell started with aggressive attacking intent. Lang, McGinley and Watt all went close in the opening exchanges, before the deadlock was broken.

O’Donnell’s header back into the area from Watt’s blocked cross found Lang. His spin and shot was blocked at the first attempt by the ‘keeper, but he was able to fire home at the second attempt.

Declan Gallagher saw a close range chip over the goalkeeper hacked off the line as Motherwell continued to press, while the hosts went close through a McLaughlin header and a Carson volley which sailed well over.

Then, with 10 minutes left in the first half, it was two. Lang’s powerful cross from the right found Polworth, who laid into the path of Watt.

He still had work to do to sort his feet, before finding the bottom right corner of the net from 10 yards.

Motherwell went into the second half looking to put the result beyond doubt but almost immediately found themselves on the back foot.

A bemused Mark O’Hara could only look on as the referee awarded a spot kick for an apparent push in the box, allowing Doherty the chance to step up and half the deficit.

Coleraine, who eliminated Maribor in the previous round, grew in confidence and stature and kept Motherwell pinned in for large spells, before their chance came with two minutes to go.

Bevis Mugabi found himself on the wrong side of his man and hauled down Bradley as he looked to pull the trigger, resulting in another spot kick and a red card for the Ugandan.

Doherty made no mistake from 12 yards, levelling the tie and sending it to another 30 minutes.

There was precious little to separate the two in extra time and the match went to penalties to decide who would face Hapoel Be’er Sheva in the third qualifying round.

O’Hara, Watt and O’Donnell all cooly converted for Stephen Robinson’s men, with Carson diving to keep out all three Coleraine kicks and send Motherwell through.

“We have to be up for it. We have to take our game to them.”

Stephen Robinson looks ahead to the clash with Coleraine.

Motherwell travel to Northern Ireland to take on Coleraine in the UEFA Europa League second qualifying round.

Fans worldwide can watch for free via the BBC Sport website.

Kick-off on Thursday 17 September 2020 is at 7.30pm BST.

Form guide

Coleraine pulled off the result of the first qualifying round last time out, winning away on penalties to Maribor after a 1-1 draw.

Before that, a preliminary round tie with Sammarinese side La Fiorita was won thanks to a last-minute strike in a 1-0 victory.

A second-place finish in the league last season got them into the UEFA Europa League, having finished four points behind champions Linfield.

Motherwell picked up their first league win of the 2020/21 season with a 1-0 home victory over St Johnstone on Saturday.

Glentoran were defeated in the first qualifying round, with Stephen Robinson’s men 5-1 victors at Fir Park.

Watch live at home

The match will be available to watch for free worldwide via the BBC Sport website. Kick-off is at 7.30pm.

Our UEFA Europa League second qualifying round match with Coleraine will be shown live on the BBC Sport website.

We have reached an agreement for fans worldwide to be able to see the game for free online, without having to register.

To watch, go to the BBC Sport website. Kick-off on Thursday 17 September is at 7.30pm.

Jamie Semple has joined Cove Rangers on loan.

The youth academy product will head to the League One side as they prepare to resume competitive action, starting with a Betfred Cup tie against Hibernian on 10 October.

Talented attacking midfielder Semple, 19, has made six appearances for our first team.

He will head north for the duration of the 2020/21 season, with Motherwell retaining the right to recall him in January.

“It’s important for Jamie to get game time to continue his development and Cove are a good club for him to go and get that,” manager Stephen Robinson said.

“He will continue to train with us for most of the week and we will monitor his progress in games.”

A debutant for our Under 20s side at the age of 14, the Scotland youth international made his debut against Dundee in April 2019, putting the ball into the box for David Turnbull’s winner in a 4-3 victory.

Three Betfred Cup appearances early in season 2019/20 followed, before injury curtailed his campaign.

“We worked hard to get into this competition last year. It’s a game to relish but ultimately we will do that by progressing.”

Keith Lasley looks ahead to the UEFA Europa League second qualifying round tie with Coleraine.

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Allan Campbell scored the goal as Motherwell recorded their first league win of the 2020/21 season.

“It comes down to a desire to win football matches in both boxes. We showed that in abundance today.”

Stephen Robinson reacts to the win over St Johnstone, which brought Motherwell’s first three points of the 2020/21 season.

Motherwell claimed their first three points with a 1-0 home win over St Johnstone.

It was far from a pretty performance but Allan Campbell’s fourth minute goal earned the win.

The Fir Park boss also asked his players to show add a bit more mettle to their game and the Steelmen responded with a hard working shift to protect that slender lead for over 86 minutes.

Robinson made two changes from his side’s last league outing at Celtic Park. Nathan McGinley, returned from injury to make his home debut on the left side of a back five. The ‘Well boss paired Tony Watt with Calum Lang, leaving Christopher Long among the nine substitutes.

However, it was Campbell, having scored a stunning late winner for Scotland Under 21 side in midweek, that netted within the opening four minutes.

Bevis Mugabi punted the ball forward and when it landed between Lang and Campbell the midfield man took possession, carrying the ball 20 yards towards the Saints box before planting the ball low beyond the diving Elliot Parish and give the Fir Park men the perfect start.

The home side’s work rate and quick movement off the ball caught Saints players off guard in the early stages.

As the Perth men found their feet they were almost gifted an equaliser after 19 minutes. Indecision on the left between McGinley and Ricki Lamie allowed Michael O’Halloran to nip in and steer his shot into the side netting.

With both defences looking comfortable, neither ‘keeper was tested and Parish’s only task was to hold a Liam Polworth free kick which sailed over everyone’s head.

At the other end, Trevor Carson was comfortably using both feet to build play from the back. Ten minutes from half-time when he had to finally use his hands routinely holding a delicate chip from David Wotherspoon which was drifting under his crossbar.

While both sets of players were comfortable in possession neither side was capable of producing the decisive pass to stretch defences as the first half ended devoid of any goalmouth after Campbell’s early goal.

Something was required to lift the game and as Saints realised they were trailing by a goal, showed a bit more enterprise from the start of the second half.

In the 50th minute Craig Conway’s corner into a packed box found Jason Kerr, who powered a header narrowly over the bar.

A few minutes later Callum Davidson freshened up his attack sending on experienced strikers Chris Kane and Stevie May.

It was ‘Well who came close, though, after Campbell worked hard to earn a free kick wide on the left. This time Polworth elected to test the ‘keeper with a curling effort which Parish moved high to his left to push behind for a corner.

The home goal had a narrow escape when a Lamie’s slip gave May possession at the corner of the six yard box but with Carson at his mercy the Saints’ striker pulled the ball across the goal and just outside the far post.

After 68 minutes, Jordan White replaced Watt who had tirelessly dragged himself all over the final third of the pitch in an attempt to get ‘Well a second goal.

His replacement took less that 90 seconds for his first attempt at goal, but with Lang’s cross drifting behind him White could only volley the ball over the bar from 14 yards.

Eight minutes from time a clash of heads between White and Jamie McCart left both players needing treatment, the ‘Well striker heavily bandaged and resulted in eight minutes added time.

At that point White received another bump on the head and Long took his place but play was still largely contained to the middle of the park.

In the final minute of that lengthy added time Saints almost claimed the equaliser they probably deserved but Conway’s 20 yard drive was straight at the waiting Carson.