Motherwell faced Aberdeen for the second time in a week on Saturday night at Fir Park, with Jens Berthel Askou picking up his first league victory as Motherwell boss.
Two injury-time goals from Australian pair Johnny Koutroumbis and Apostolos Stamatelopoulos gave Motherwell a deserved first league win of the season and extended their unbeaten run to 12 games.
For the first time since his arrival in the summer, the Motherwell manager named an unchanged 11. All nine substitutes remained the same as the previous weekend to match.
That meant a home start for Stephen Welsh and last week’s goal hero, Regan Charles-Cook.
Backed by their loyal and noisy following, Aberdeen could have been ahead within the first minute when Calum Ward was forced to palm Kevin Nisbet’s powerful header from eight yards over the bar.
Although ‘Well quickly resumed their short passing game, both teams had difficulty dealing with longer balls on the wet and slick surface.
Midway through the half, a steady build-up released Tawanda Maswanhise, but his ball across the six-yard box was taken at the second attempt by Dimitar Mitov as Charles-Cook lay waiting behind the ‘keeper.
Following a water break in the rain after 35 minutes, Ward had to act smartly to push Jesper Karlson’s shot away from goal.
With ‘Well content to probe for an opening and never really threatening Mitov’s goal in the first half, former ‘Well defender Nicky Devlin was denied the opener at the other end when his header was nodded off the line by Elliot Watt.
There was a bit more pressure on the Dons’ goal at the start of the second half, and after 62 minutes Mitov produced a brilliant save to deny the Steelmen the opening goal. A quick break on the right allowed Ibrahim Said to whip the ball into the penalty box. Although it fell behind Apostolos Stamatelopoulos, the striker took a touch before hooking the ball towards goal only to see the ‘keeper racing from his line to block his goal-bound effort.
That sparked some much-needed life into the game as both sides chased three points.
With 73 minutes played, Well’s first change saw Johnny Koutroumbis replace Stephen O’Donnell after another impressive shift from the former Scotland.
Five minutes later another chance came the way of Stamatelopoulos. A fortunate rebound sent the ball towards the six-yard box, but the Australian’s well-measured header drifted beyond the post.
Motherwell looked the more likely to score as the game moved into the final five minutes, and Esapa Osong replaced Charles-Cook.
Despite having the better of the second half, though, the Fir Park men seemed to be heading for yet another draw until two minutes into added-on time.
Koutroumbis cut into the box on the left, and although his low shot lacked power, it squirmed out of the hands of the grounded Mitov and over the line to give ‘Well the lead.
Intent on playing out the last few minutes of the game, Jens Berthel Askou sent on Andy Halliday and Kofi Balmer.
However, in a dramatic ending, ‘Well doubled their lead in the 96th minute. Osong’s determination carried him into the Dons’ box before he was fouled, although it took a VAR check to confirm it was a penalty. That allowed Stamatelopoulos to hammer home his first league goal of the season from 12 yards as the players rushed to celebrate with the striker, and the ‘Well fans enjoyed a late, late show.
Motherwell Team: Ward, O’Donnell, Gordon, Welsh, Longelo, Watt, Fadinger, Said, Maswanhise, Charles-Cook, Stamatelopoulos.
Motherwell Subs: Oxborough, Koutroumbis, Balmer, Priestman, McColm, McAllister, Halliday, Ross, Osong.
