Roundup of Quarter-Final action in 2020-21 Scottish Cup featuring a huge cupset as the four semi-finalists became known.
With 15 goals and three penalty shootouts across the four Quarter Finals, there were plenty of drama across four pulsating all Scottish Premiership ties as we round up the all the action across each tie.
Hibernian 2-2 Motherwell (Hibernian win 4-2 on penalties)
Martin Boyle had the first chance for Hibs in a scrappy first half at Easter Road as his cross flashed wide across goal past the bottom left corner, before Kevin Nisbet saw his own cross roll wide of the opposite post.
Nisbet then fired a shot wide after picking up Paul Hanlon pass before Jackson Irvine headed wide, either side of Ricki Lamie’s wide effort for Motherwell from a corner after Matt Macey had blocked Allan Campbell’s shot.
Christian Doidge soon afterwards proceeded to put Hibs ahead seven minutes into the second half, as he headed in from Paul McGinn’s cross.
Doidge then missed a huge opportunity to double Hibs’ lead three minutes later, flicking Irvine’s knockdown wide before Devante Cole went up the other end in the 60th minute but Macey blocked his shot.
Irvine then punished Cole’s mistake 20 minutes later as Joe Newell’s cross found Boyle to pull back for Nisbet, who took aim towards the bottom left corner only for Irvine to get the final touch to divert Hibs’ second goal in.
Motherwell however hit back two minutes later as Lamie volleyed in from a corner, before Tony Watt headed in a 88th minute equaliser for the visitors from Stephen O’Donnell’s cross to force extra time.
The visitors then saw penalty appeals go unheard after Ryan Porteous fouled Christopher Long, before Cole and Steven Lawless failed to connect with O’Donnell’s cross just metres from goal as it evaded everyone in the box.
Hibs however were reduced to ten men in the closing moments as Alex Gogic was sent off for violent conduct during a melee.
Both teams eventually clung on to force a penalty shootout which Hibs won 4-2 after Mark O’Hara and Lawless both missed for Motherwell, whilst Nisbet’s spot-kick for the hosts was saved.
Aberdeen 0-3 Dundee United
Early chances at Pittodrie fell Aberdeen’s way as Callum Hendry saw two shots denied either side of Matty Kennedy’s effort, before Lewis Ferguson headed a corner wide.
Marc McNulty soon afterwards went close for Dundee Utd but was denied just a minute before Nicky Clark intercepted Florian Kamberi, unleashing Lawrence Shankland to tee up McNulty to fire in across into the bottom left corner put the visitors ahead.
Ian Harkes and Clark then saw chances go wide of goal before Ryan Edwards doubled The Tangerines’ lead with a 37th minute header.
McNulty then wrapped up victory after playing a double one-two move with Harkes who started the play, before the on loan Reading striker eventually delivered a fine strike to seal victory in the 54th minute as Dundee Utd held on for the win.
Rangers 1-1 St Johnstone (St Johnstone win 4-2 on penalties)
St Johnstone enjoyed a bright start as Jason Kerr’s shot was deflected for a corner by Filip Helander, with the resulting set piece as Rangers broke on the counter-attack but Glen Kamara’s shot was cleared by Zander Clark.
Scott Tanser and Alfredo Morelos both then saw volleyed shots denied as St Johnstone managed to hold the Scottish Premiership champions at half-time.
Steven Gerrard’s Gers soon began to turn the screws as Morelos saw three second-half attempts denied, whilst Borna Barisic’s free-kick was cleared by Clark.
Michael O’Halloran saw two late chances to seal a cupset win for St Johnstone blocked by Barisic then Allan McGregor, although Kemar Roofe then saw a shot and header go begging up the other end as the match consequently went to extra time.
Both teams saw chances go begging until James Tavernier flicked in a 117th minute header from Joe Aribo’s cross to put Gers on the verge of the last four.
St Johnstone however snatched a dramatic last-gasp equaliser as Xander Clark headed a corner delivery towards the left corner, only for his strike to be poked in by Chris Kane to send this match to penalties.
Tavernier and Roofe saw their spot-kicks saved either side of strikes from Barisic and Jermain Defoe, whilst St Johnstone scored all four spot kicks as Alistair McCaan struck the winning penalty to send The Saints through 4-2 on penalties.
Kilmarnock 3-3 St Mirren (St Mirren win 5-4 on penalties)
Kristian Dennis was the first to go closest as his third minute pullback cross was dragged wide across goal, before George Oakley charged up the other end for Kilmarnock but fired his connection to a long ball over the bar.
Ilkay Durmis and Jamie McGrath then saw chances go begging for St Mirren, whilst Mitchell Pinnock and Greg Kiltie saw their attempts for the hosts go begging unaware that their mistakes would be punished in the 24th minute.
Lee Erwin was fouled by Youssouf Mulumbu up the right, with McGrath playing short to Durmis who crossed towards the top left corner, with the ball finding the back of the net after Colin Doyle fumbled his save mid air to put the visitors ahead.
Kilmarnock immediately launched various attacks and were rewarded 13 minutes later when Kiltie’s shot was cleared for a corner, from which Zeno Ibsen Rossi headed in an equaliser.
Rossi nearly grabbed a second goal four minutes later but Kiltie then picked up Oakley’s 44th minute lay-off and fired across into the bottom left corner to put Kilmarnock ahead at half-time.
Pinnock saw two headers and a shot go begging in the first 15 minutes of the second half as Kilmarnock initially dominated after the break, with St Mirren’s first chance of the second period coming from McGrath who curled over in the 67th minute.
Both teams then saw shots go begging until Alan Power fouled Ethan Erhahon to concede a free-kick, from which Joe Shaughnessy headed in a late equaliser to force extra time.
Nicke Kabamba went close for the Killies in the second minute of extra time but dragged his shot wide, only for Brandon Haunstrup to find himself controversially fouled by Kyle McAllister nine minutes later and Ross Millen fired his penalty down the middle to put the hosts back in front.
St Mirren proceeded to push for a third goal of their own in order to force a penalty shootout, eventually getting their reward after McGrath scored a 119th minute penalty following Doyle’s foul on Jake Doyle-Hayes.
In a tight penalty shootout, Rory McKenzie missed Kilmarnock’s second spot-kick which cost them as Kyle McAllister eventually fired in the winning penalty for St Mirren, sending the visitors through to their first semi-final since 2008-09 season.
Who Plays Who in Semi-Finals?
St Johnstone will face St Mirren as Callum Davidson’s Saints look to secure a second Cup Final of this season, having previously reached the Scottish League Cup Final in February where they defeated Livingston 1-0.
Dundee United meanwhile take on bookies favourites, Hibernian in the other semi-final, with both ties taking place at Hampden Park across the weekend of 8/9 May 2021.
Full semi-final draw for 2020-21 Scottish Cup can be found below.
St Mirren v St Johnstone
Dundee United v Hibernian
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