Kilmarnock 2-1 Dundee United: Armstrong's winner seals first Hampden visit for hosts in decade
- Published
Kyle Lafferty slots home the game's opener from the spot
Kilmarnock will play in the Scottish League Cup semi-finals for the first time since lifting the trophy 10 years ago after edging past Dundee United.
Kyle Lafferty's penalty in the opening 10 minutes was swiftly cancelled out by Glenn Middleton's fine equaliser minutes later at Rugby Park.
Tony Watt then squandered a chance inside the box, before Danny Armstrong headed in a second-half winner.
The three remaining ties will be played on Wednesday.
Neither side took long to warm up on a decidedly cold October evening, as Ryan Edwards' clearance landed at the feet of Lafferty on the edge of the area in plenty of space to direct a shot goalward.
Referee Kevin Clancy deemed it to have struck the arm of Liam Smith and the Northern Ireland international converted his spot kick, sending keeper Carljohan Eriksson the wrong way.
The away side replied almost instantly as Middleton swivelled around the ball after Smith's cutback, impressively bending his shot into the far corner from inside the box.
Killie thought they had gone ahead again but Lewis Mayo's attempt, following Joe Wright's header back across the box, crashed off the post.
As the second half got going both sides had chances to notch ahead.
Armstrong could not get enough swerve on his strike to bend it inside the post before Tony Watt mishit a close-range chance for the away side after Dylan Levitt's enticing cross.
Moments later, Killie secured their first Hampden appearance in just over a decade through Armstrong, as he nodded home from Jordan Jones' dinked delivery.
Player of the match - Alan Power
In an often intense cup tie, Power stepped forward with a real captain's performance to lead his team back to Hampden
What they said
Kilmarnock manager Derek McInnes: "A special night for everyone that turned up of a Kilmarnock persuasion. It was an opportunity for us to take a step forward and get to a semi-final.
"We set out from the start of the group stage at Fraserburgh - which seems an eternity ago now when we were trying to put a squad together - to see the bigger picture that if you get through the group stages you're a couple of games from Hampden and that's how it's played out."
Dundee United manager Liam Fox: "Disappointing, really disappointing opportunity that we've passed up to get to Hampden. Massively disappointed.
"I thought it was a nervy game, didn't think there was much in it. We've switched off from a cross ball which has ultimately cost us tonight.
What's next
Kilmarnock host Ross County on Saturday 22 October (15:00 BST), with Dundee United away to St Mirren at the same time.