Regan Charles-Prepare dinner scored a memorable first purpose for Motherwell to take their early promise underneath Jens Berthel Askou up a notch and e book a visit to Hampden following a 1-0 win at Aberdeen.
Charles-Prepare dinner’s swerving long-range strike within the second half at Pittodrie proved sufficient to earn a Premier Sports activities Cup semi-final place and proceed Aberdeen’s depressing begin to the season.
The Scottish Cup holders had been on the lookout for a break from their league kind, which leaves them backside of the William Hill Premiership and not using a purpose.
However, regardless of making an honest begin and hitting the bar twice, they suffered a fifth defeat of the season to go away supervisor Jimmy Thelin underneath strain.
A crowd of 10,533 was proof of a scarcity of perception among the many dwelling assist and the ultimate whistle was met with resignation as a lot as anger.
In distinction, a wholesome travelling contingent celebrated with their gamers and Askou, who stays unbeaten as Motherwell supervisor, as they sealed their semi-final spot for a second yr working.
Thelin handed Stuart Armstrong a primary begin in central midfield because the extra defensive-minded Sivert Nilsen dropped to the bench however the Scotland worldwide will want extra sport time to make a real affect.
The Dons loved a lot the higher of the territory within the first quarter however couldn’t take a look at Calum Ward from a number of efforts.
Motherwell had been with out Elijah Simply and so they initially struggled to take pleasure in possession outdoors their very own half.
They started to create possibilities after they discovered a solution to get Charles-Prepare dinner on the ball and the previous Ross County man was on the coronary heart of their finest attacking play within the first half.
The winger arrange Tawanda Maswanhise, who cracked the ball off the put up earlier than Ibrahim Stated shot nicely over from the rebound.
The Steelmen secured their first cup win at Pittodrie since 1991
Charles-Prepare dinner then received a nook which led to Stephen O’Donnell seeing his header brilliantly hooked off the road by Adil Aouchiche.
Aberdeen’s finest first-half likelihood fell to Mats Knoester following Aouchiche’s free-kick however the defender hit the bar from six yards.
Motherwell quickly had an equally good likelihood when some one-touch play despatched Apostolos Stamatelopoulos clear in the fitting channel. The Australian squared for Charles-Prepare dinner however Dimitar Mitov unfold himself to dam the shot from 10 yards.
The guests continued to develop after the interval and bought the breakthrough within the 63rd minute. Emmanuel Longelo teed up Charles-Prepare dinner to shoot first time in off the put up from 22 yards.
Thelin despatched on Marko Lazetic to affix Kevin Nisbet up entrance however Motherwell created an excellent likelihood to complete the sport off with 5 minutes left when Stamatelopoulos headed huge from Maswanhise’s cross after a slick transfer.
Aberdeen had been toiling however they had been handed a late likelihood to check the Motherwell defence when Longelo conceded a nook underneath no strain.
The Dons nearly took it as substitute Nicky Devlin met Jesper Karlsson’s near-post supply and guided a header previous Ward solely to see it bounce away off the underside of the bar.
The Steelmen survived extra aerial strain to safe their first cup win at Pittodrie since knocking out the then-Scottish Cup holders on their solution to their final piece of silverware in 1991.
