Match ends, Dunfermline Athletic 1(3), St. Johnstone 1(4).
DunfermlineDunfermline1St JohnstoneSt Johnstone1
St Johnstone win 4-3 on penalties
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."
Line-ups
Dunfermline
Formation 4-1-4-1
- 1Fon Williams
- 2ComrieSubstituted forMayoat 64'minutesBooked at 116mins
- 44Watson
- 5Murray
- 3Edwards
- 24McInroy
- 11Dow
- 21MurraySubstituted forWilsonat 105'minutes
- 8Turner
- 23ThomasSubstituted forMcCannat 104'minutes
- 10McManusBooked at 59minsSubstituted forO'Haraat 71'minutes
Substitutes
- 7O'Hara
- 14McCann
- 15Wilson
- 16Whittaker
- 17Bowman
- 19Fenton
- 20Gill
- 22Mayo
- 27Berry
St Johnstone
Formation 3-4-2-1
- 1Clark
- 5Kerr
- 6Gordon
- 24Booth
- 19Rooney
- 8DavidsonSubstituted forConwayat 69'minutes
- 26Craig
- 3TanserSubstituted forMcCartat 115'minutes
- 10WotherspoonSubstituted forHendryat 78'minutesBooked at 118mins
- 18McCann
- 9KaneSubstituted forMayat 60'minutes
Substitutes
- 4McCart
- 7Conway
- 12Parish
- 13Bryson
- 14May
- 15McNamara
- 17Melamed
- 22Hendry
- 46Ferguson
- Referee:
- Don Robertson
Match Stats
Home TeamDunfermlineAway TeamSt Johnstone
- Possession
- Home40%
- Away60%
- Shots
- Home5
- Away20
- Shots on Target
- Home2
- Away5
- Corners
- Home3
- Away13
- Fouls
- Home9
- Away13
Live Text
Post update
Penalties over
Penalty Shootout ends, Dunfermline Athletic 1(3), St. Johnstone 1(4).
Post update
Goal! Dunfermline Athletic 1(3), St. Johnstone 1(4). Liam Craig (St. Johnstone) converts the penalty with a left footed shot to the centre of the goal.
Post update
Penalty saved! Kevin O'Hara (Dunfermline Athletic) fails to capitalise on this great opportunity, right footed shot saved in the bottom left corner.
Post update
Goal! Dunfermline Athletic 1(3), St. Johnstone 1(3). Callum Booth (St. Johnstone) converts the penalty with a left footed shot to the bottom right corner.
Post update
Goal! Dunfermline Athletic 1(3), St. Johnstone 1(2). Ryan Dow (Dunfermline Athletic) converts the penalty with a right footed shot to the bottom left corner.
Post update
Penalty missed! Still Dunfermline Athletic 1(2), St. Johnstone 1(2). Callum Hendry (St. Johnstone) hits the bar with a right footed shot.
Post update
Goal! Dunfermline Athletic 1(2), St. Johnstone 1(2). Kyle Turner (Dunfermline Athletic) converts the penalty with a right footed shot to the bottom left corner.
Post update
Goal! Dunfermline Athletic 1(1), St. Johnstone 1(2). Stevie May (St. Johnstone) converts the penalty with a right footed shot to the bottom left corner.
Post update
Goal! Dunfermline Athletic 1(1), St. Johnstone 1(1). Iain Wilson (Dunfermline Athletic) converts the penalty with a right footed shot to the bottom left corner.
Post update
Goal! Dunfermline Athletic 1, St. Johnstone 1(1). Craig Conway (St. Johnstone) converts the penalty with a right footed shot to the bottom right corner.
Post update
Penalty saved! Paul Watson (Dunfermline Athletic) fails to capitalise on this great opportunity, right footed shot saved in the bottom right corner.
Penalties in progress
Penalty Shootout begins Dunfermline Athletic 1, St. Johnstone 1.
Post update
Second Half Extra Time ends, Dunfermline Athletic 1, St. Johnstone 1.
Post update
Kyle Turner (Dunfermline Athletic) wins a free kick in the defensive half.
Post update
Foul by Shaun Rooney (St. Johnstone).
Booking
Callum Hendry (St. Johnstone) is shown the yellow card.
Post update
Josh Edwards (Dunfermline Athletic) wins a free kick in the defensive half.
Post update
Foul by Callum Hendry (St. Johnstone).
Post update
Attempt saved. Lewis McCann (Dunfermline Athletic) right footed shot from the left side of the box is saved in the bottom right corner.
