Dunfermline Athletic 1-1 St Johnstone (AET - 3-4 on penalties)
- Published
Shaun Rooney fired St Johnstone ahead in extra time
St Johnstone beat Dunfermline Athletic on penalties to reach the Scottish League Cup semi-final for the first time since 2016.
After Paul Watson and Callum Hendry missed for each side in the shootout, Zander Clark saved from Kevin O'Hara to allow Liam Craig to seal the win for the Premiership side.
Following a goalless 90 minutes, a neat touch and finish from Shaun Rooney had put St Johnstone ahead in extra time. However, Iain Wilson levelled for the home side to take it to spot kicks.
St Johnstone will find out their semi-final opponents on Wednesday.
Both sides lost 11-match unbeaten runs at the weekend, but it was the Premiership team who looked the hungrier to get back to winning ways in the early stages.
Dunfermline captain Euan Murray had to block a David Wotherspoon shot, and Scott Tanser blasted over from 16 yards.
It was approaching the half-hour mark before the home side had their first serious attempt on goal, with two Dom Thomas crosses causing problems in the St Johnstone box.
But the Perth side passed up a golden chance for the opener before the break when Murray Davidson, who had made a terrific run into the box from midfield, headed over from close range.
St Johnstone continued to dominate possession and Chris Kane was inches away from breaking the deadlock with a right-foot drive that was only just wide.
Liam Gordon had a header saved as extra time loomed, but a moment of quality put the visitors ahead when Tanser fired a cross in and Rooney took one touch before hammering into the far corner.
Stevie May twice came closer to doubling the lead, but with the clock ticking towards the 120th minute Dunfermline drew level.
The St Johnstone defence were caught napping from a long throw-in and Wilson reacted quickly and hammered the ball low beyond the helpless Clark.
That sent the game to penalties, where the Perth side prevailed as they bid to reach their first League Cup final since 1998.
Dunfermline manager Stevie Crawford: "I'm gutted for the boys, they've been fantastic. To lose to St Johnstone is no disgrace.
"The first 20 minutes we were under the cosh and if you had said then we would take it to penalties we would have bitten your hand off."
St Johnstone manager Callum Davidson: "Delighted and a bit of relief after the way the game went. The performance at times tonight was excellent and we should've seen the game out when we were in front. Credit to Dunfermline they kept going, kept going and got the equaliser.
"I think it's fantastic for a club like St Johnstone to get to these sorts of occasions [the semi-finals]. The players were desperate to get there, it's just a shame the supporters couldn't be here to watch us."