Motherwell progressed to the quarter-finals of the Premier Sports Cup with an extra-time win over St Johnstone at McDiarmid Park.
Lukas Fadinger was the hero, netting in the second half of extra time after both sides drew a blank after 90 minutes.
Jens Berthel Askou made two changes from the side that drew 0-0 with St Mirren last weekend. In came Tom Sparrow for the injured Johnny Koutroumbis, and also Apostolos Stamatelopoulos who replaced the suspended Callum Slattery following his two bookings in the group-stage of the Premier Sports Cup.
The bench was littered with Motherwell Academy Graduates ready to make their mark. Five youngsters from the Academy took their spot on the bench, with Ewan Wilson, Jay Gillies, Zander McAllister, Campbell Forrest and Luca Ross named amongst the substitutes.
Motherwell’s first chance of the afternoon arrived inside five minutes. A nice, flowing move involving Stephen O’Donnell and Tawanda Maswanhise set Elijah Just away on the wing. He was brought down, and from the subsequent free kick, Paul McGinn’s over-the-shoulder effort from inside of the area went just wide of the target.
St Johnstone’s first chance of the afternoon arrived a couple of minutes later. The ball fell to Jamie Gullan on the edge of the box, who fired over Calum Ward’s goal.
McGinn had his second chance from a corner on 15 minutes. The skipper got his head to Emmanuel Longelo’s delivery but committed a foul in the process.
On 22 minutes, Ibrahim Said scuffed an effort wide of the post that caused the keeper no trouble.
There was a lengthy stoppage due to Adam Sidibeh requiring treatment, which allowed both groups of players to take on much-needed fluid. St Johnstone’s number nine played on following the stoppage.
On the half-hour mark, Just’s effort that was destined for the bottom corner was blocked amid claims of handball, but with no VAR, there was no stoppage to check.
Both sides were creating openings at this stage. Sidibeh controlled a five-yard pass on his chest before sending it over into the away stand.
Moments later, Longelo took on his two defenders before sending in a low cross which was somehow sent over his own crossbar by Morgan Boyes from close range.
With the board going up to signal four minutes added, Lukas Fadinger sent in a free kick from the left edge of the box. Stamatelopoulos flicked on at the near post, but the ball trickled past the target.
St Johnstone had a big sight of goal in first-half stoppage time. A free kick delivery eventually fell to Cheick Diabate, but the centre back smashed over on the half volley.
With the game level, both sides looked to start the second-half on the front foot. Just sent Maswanhise away up the right wing; the 22-year-old tried to find his teammate Stamatelopoulos but the cross was too heavy.
On 49 minutes, Longelo’s cross was diverted for a corner before anyone in a Motherwell shirt could get on the end of it, but it was a positive start to the second period. From the subsequent corner, O’Donnell looked to have got past his man but was brought down. The referee booked the Scotland international for simulation.
In a lively affair, Fadinger stole possession on the edge of his own area before carrying the ball into the opposition box. His final pass let him down, but the travelling support were encouraged by what they were seeing.
Just had a shot comfortably saved on 53 minutes from a well-worked corner routine.
Bang on the hour mark, a big chance for the Steelmen. Lovely play on the edge of the box ended in a chipped pass through for Stamatelopoulos, he just got on the end of it before the keeper and set up Longelo whose shot was blocked. Said’s follow-up was also blocked.
Maswanhise was next to have a go. He got on the end of Stamatelopoulos’ pass and cut into the box, but his shot was saved by Steward who got down well.
On 66 minutes, Ward produced a magnificent save to deny Makenzie Kirk who latched onto a flick and went through one-on-one.
The next chance arrived on 72 minutes. Just had a go from a free kick 25 yards out. His effort was on target but too central to cause concern.
Said caused the Saints more issues on 73 minutes, cutting inside and sending a rasping effort towards goal, but it was diverted for a corner from a St Johnstone defender.
Motherwell made their first changes of the afternoon on 78 minutes. Esapa Osong was introduced, making his debut, alongside Andy Halliday to replace Tawanda Maswanhise and Ibrahim Said.
Boyes again was living dangerously on 83 minutes, when he cleared a ball over his own bar from close range again. Substitute Halliday controlled on the chest and volleyed on target from that corner, but Steward gathered.
In stoppage time, the chances kept coming. Jason Holt somehow didn’t convert from a cutback.
Osong then had a header saved from a cross a minute later, as both sides felt they could grab the winner before the full-time whistle. But neither side could get the winner in 90 minutes, and the game headed into extra time.
After 90 minutes of football, the deadlock was yet to be broken. No changes were made by Jens Berthel Askou.
The first chance in extra-time was for the hosts. Kirk’s shot was saved by the post and Ward on 91 minutes. The game was becoming more open by the minute due to fatigue setting in for both teams.
Another big chance arrived on 98 minutes. Just latched onto a misplaced pass, drove into the box but couldn’t drill his shot on target, and instead found the side netting.
Substitute Jonathan Svedberg stung the palms of Ward with a volley on 101 minutes. Longelo rushed back to regain possession on the left wing, which resulted in the full-back going down and unable to continue. Ewan Wilson was his replacement, just before half-time in extra-time was signalled by the referee.
On 108 minutes, the deadlock was finally broken. Patient play on the left-hand side resulted in a neatly threaded pass from Elliot Watt which found Lukas Fadinger. The Austrian steadied himself and saw his shot fire across the goalkeeper and into the far corner of the net.
Luca Ross and Kofi Balmer were brought on moments later for Just and Tom Sparrow, with just nine minutes left to play.
There was a special moment for Academy Graduate Zander McAllister, who replaced Apostolos Stamatelopoulos with just minutes left.
The Steelmen saw out the final minutes comfortably, securing another quarter-final spot in the Premier Sports Cup.
Motherwell Team: Ward, Sparrow (111′), O’Donnell, McGinn, Longelo (105′), Said (78′), Fadinger, Watt, Just (111′), Maswanhise (78′), Stamatelopoulos (117′).
Motherwell Subs: Oxborough, Balmer (111′), Wilson (105′), Halliday (78′), Gillies, McAllister (117′), Forrest, Osong (78′), Ross (111′).
