BBC SPORT | Football | Scottish Cups (original) (raw)

Graham Bayne's winning penalty triggered wild celebrations at Pittodrie

Dunfermline sent Aberdeen spinning out of the Scottish Cup after a dramatic penalty shoot-out victory in their sixth-round replay at Pittodrie.

Darren Mackie spurned a simple chance for the Dons, while Sone Aluko and Andrew Considine had efforts cleared off the line.

But the First Division outfit rallied against their illustrious SPL rivals.

Graham Bayne fired home the winning penalty after Scott Severin and Richard Foster missed for the shattered hosts.

Aberdeen started the game as though stung by being forced to play a replay after last week's cup tie at East End Park ended in a 1-1 draw.

And the Dons spurned a great chance to take the lead within two minutes. Aluko broke free on the left-hand side and Mackie looked certain to convert his low cross.

But the forward missed the ball with a fresh-air swipe and the small knot of Pars fans - some of them topless - breathed a sigh of relief.

Dunfermline goalkeeper Paul Gallacher was then called into action to tip a Mark Kerr header over the bar a minute later.

Mackie then failed to get the ball from under his feet under the close attention of Gallacher.

Aberdeen's early fluency soon deserted them as the visitors grew in confidence after surviving the early onslaught.

Aberdeen's Richard Foster missed from the spot in the cup defeat

The Pars almost took the lead with their first meaningful attack in the 32nd minute.

Alex Burke whipped in a wicked cross from the right and Steven Bell's bullet header from the centre of the penalty area was well saved by Jamie Langfield.

The Aberdeen fans became frustrated with their side's inability to break down the First Division side's defence and Dons manager Jimmy Calderwood looked far from happy.

Nicky Phinn, who scored for the Pars when the sides drew 1-1 at East End Park, sent a looping header towards goal after 56 minutes and Langfield took no chances as he tipped it over the bar.

Aberdeen continued to frustrate their supporters after the break with an increasing number of fruitless long balls into the box towards Mackie and Chris Maguire.

Dons defender Lee Mair appealed in vain for a penalty after a robust challenge by Wilson in the box, but referee Eddie Smith was not convinced.

Callum Woods tested Langfield with a low 25-yard shot in the 67th minute after neatly sidestepping Aluko.

And Bayne proved an irritant for the Dons' defence with a couple of long-range headers that failed to trouble Langfield.

Bayne and Bell combined well with five minutes remaining, but the latter fired wildly over the bar.

Bell atoned for his earlier miss when he cleared Considine's header off the line.

Aluko then saw his goalbound effort cleared by Pars captain Wilson as the black and white rearguard held firm.

The sides could not be separated in extra-time and the tie was decided with the nerve-shredding penalty shoot-out.

Bayne's strike secured a semi-final clash against Falkirk, as the Dons fans booed their shell-shocked players off the pitch.

Aberdeen manager Jimmy Calderwood:
"I'm bitterly disappointed, again, we've let our club and our supporters down in a massive game.

"We've just got to wonder why and try to get to the bottom of the problem.

"We've played here wonderfully well against the Old Firm, then Dunfermline come and we don't play anywhere near that standard.

"We're not taking our chances at this moment in time, but we should still be good enough to make chances and score them.

"But all credit to Dunfermline, they defended really well and made it difficult for us."

Dunfermline manager Jim McIntyre:
"The boys were magnificent and they gave me everything they had.

"Aberdeen were putting them under pressure, but they've got a will.

"The first five minutes of the second-half of extra-time I thought 'give me penalties right now'.

"I'm delighted for them, they deserve it.

"I'm just so proud of them, I'm absolutely over the moon for Greg Shields."

Aberdeen: Langfield, Foster, Mair (Considine 67), Diamond, Mulgrew, Jamie Smith, Severin, Kerr, Aluko (Wright 106), Maguire (Duff 73), Mackie.
Subs Not Used: Bossu, Young.

Booked: Foster.

Dunfermline: Gallacher, Woods, Scott Thomson, Wilson, McCann, Burke, Glass, Bell (Ross 115), Phinn (Muirhead 80), Mole (Loy 80), Bayne.
Subs Not Used: Paterson, Willis.

Dunfermline win 4-2 on penalties

Att: 13,567