Greenock Morton 2-1 Dundee United

Jai Quitongo (centre) scored his fourth goal in the competition

Greenock Morton overcame fellow Championship side Dundee United to reach the semi-finals of the Scottish League Cup.

Jai Quitongo fired in off the underside of the bar to give Morton the lead.

And Thomas O'Ware headed in Ross Forbes' corner to double the hosts' advantage.

United reduced their deficit in the second half, Nick van der Velden finishing well, but the visitors could not find a leveller.

Morton and Rangers, who beat Queen of the South, will go into Thursday's draw for the last four, with Celtic hosting Alloa Athletic and St Johnstone taking on Aberdeen in this week's other quarter-finals.

Unfamiliar foes

Fate can be a curious thing. Dundee United had not visited Cappielow in 20 years but found themselves facing Morton twice in five days.

Both managers insisted the cup tie in Greenock would have no influence on the weekend league meeting in Dundee but a measure of the differing depths of squad was Ray McKinnon's five changes for United and beleaguered Jim Duffy only able to make one switch due to injuries to half-a-dozen key players.

A scrappy first half ensued in which, on a balmy Greenock evening which served up perfect playing conditions - swarming midges apart - the ball was played too long, too often.

The sides will meet again on Saturday

Quitongo shines

Over-hit diagonals seldom make for happy viewing and there were few early goalmouth thrills.

But then Quitongo, 19, lit the game up. He latched on to Ross Forbes' delicate head-flick but still had a lot to do. The striker is strong and athletic - his acrobatic celebration confirmed that - and he powered forward before unleashing a fine strike which seared beyond Cammy Bell. A star in the making, Quitongo threatened twice more after the break.

Moments after the opener, United were beginning to hope it might be another couple of decades before they had to return to Greenock, O'Ware's thumping header at the near post converting Forbes' corner.

Quitongo (left) was a persistent threat for the hosts

Nervous end

The mission for the home side in the second half was to wrap barbed wire around their lead but the plan started to crack.

Van der Velden's low shot across Andy McNeil gave the visitors hope and Blair Spittal then struck a net-bound shot, but somehow McNeil got down to his left to shepherd the ball round the post.

Quitongo limped off with cramp, having given his considerable all, and United's Lewis Toshney came close to scoring.

It was a cliff-hanger of a climax and the scrappy early play was a distant memory. In the end Morton hung on to that cliff edge by their fingertips.

And now a first League Cup semi-final in 37 years beckons for a club who could not, on the night, even fill the substitutes' bench. Fate can be a curious thing.

Reaction

Morton manager Jim Duffy: "It was a terrific cup tie, two teams giving it everything. We defended brilliantly but our front two, Jai Quitongo and Gary Oliver, gave us an important out-ball and that penetration.

"We were a bit unfortunate once or twice on the counter attack.

"Every single player did themselves and the club proud."

Dundee United manager Ray McKinnon: "Everything was pedestrian in the first half, we had no purpose. It was tippy-tappy without any penetration and we got punished twice.

"I'm really disappointed with that. It's probably the worst we've been this season. We need to be more positive on the ball and put teams on the back foot. Full credit to Morton."