Ayr United 1-1 Dundee United: (3-4 on pens) Premiership side win on penalties
- Published
Tomi Adeloye (partially hidden) scored to make it 1-0 to Ayr United before Nicky Clark equalised from the spot
"A poor refereeing decision" helped Dundee United avoid a League Cup upset said Ayr United manager David Hopkin after the Premiership side won a tense shootout at Somerset Park.
Ayr led through Tomi Adeloye's goal, but the game turned with Jack Baird's red card as Nicky Clark equalised from the resultant penalty.
Benjamin Siegrist saved twice in the shoot-out as the visitors prevailed.
"No-one from Dundee United even appealed for a penalty," said Hopkin.
"For some unknown reason we get a penalty given against us. It's a poor refereeing decision that has cost us today.
"It's two centre halves going for the one ball, the ball is out of the pitch, the two are grappling with each other. The referee decides to point to the spot and the whole stadium is still waiting to see where it was coming from."
The home side were left to rue a number of big chances missed at 1-0 up as they were denied a place in the quarter-final for the first time in three years.
Dundee United striker Clark scored the winning shootout spot-kick after Patrick Reading and Jonathan Afolabi were denied for Ayr.
Dundee United came to Ayrshire after a morale-boosting 1-0 win over Rangers in the league seven days previously, and while they very much looked like the Premiership outfit early on, they soon found themselves second best to a confident Ayr United side.
David Hopkin's men had the best of the first-half chances with James Maxwell twice going close, though Peter Pawlett should have done better for the visitors before the break.
However, the hosts took a deserved lead when the impressive Adeloye was put clean through, took two touches, and finished.
Dundee United were rattled and but for Siegrist they would have been further behind as the goalkeeper saved from Reading and Mark McKenzie.
Ayr appeared to be heading for the next round up until 11 minutes to go when referee Nick Walsh felt Baird had brought down Ryan Edwards in the box and handed him a second yellow card.
Baird was sent off, and Clark scored from the spot.
Dundee United, now with an extra man, suddenly had a spring in their step. Marc McNulty stabbed the ball over in extra time just a day after rejoining the club on loan, while Liam Smith, Pawlett and Jeando Fuchs all shot wide.
At the other end, Ayr substitute Joe Chalmers should have done better as he shot wide, and so it went to spot kicks, where despite McNulty putting his effort over the bar, United found a way to win.
Man of the match - Benjamin Siegrist
Benjamin Siegrist kept his side in the tie with some top-class stops, then saved two spot kicks
What did they say?
Ayr United manager David Hopkin: "Over the 90 minutes there was only one team that looked like winning the game. Benjamin Siegrist has made two world class saves to keep them in the game.
"Dundee United are a very good team but they didn't create anything the whole game and that's the frustrating thing."
Dundee United forward Nicky Clark: "We hung in there and got the penalty. We're just delighted to be in the next round. The penalty - if it's in our box I'm sure they would be screaming for it as well.
"Sometimes we could have moved it quicker and got it wider but credit to Ayr. He (Siegrist) is different class, the save from Mark McKenzie onto the bar was a massive moment in the game, he was great."
What's next?
Ayr United are next in action on Saturday when they travel to Inverness Caledonian Thistle in the Scottish Championship (15:00 BST) while Dundee United are away to St Johnstone next Sunday in the Premiership (15:00).