Motherwell's Tawanda Maswanhise has a shot against Dundee United as the sides clashed in the Premier Sports Cup quarter-final (Image: SNS Group)

Motherwell 2, Dundee United 1: Miller penalty sends Well into Hampden semi-final

Stuart Kettlewell's side progress in the Premier Sports Cup

by · Daily Record

Lennon Miller's late penalty sent Motherwell into the Premier Sports Cup semi-finals and their first date at Hampden since 2018.

Zach Robinson's rocket was cancelled out by Louis Moult, but when Marvin Kaleta was decked inside the box, Miller kept his nerve to convert from the spot.

English striker Robinson bagged his first ever Motherwell goal as he struck a howitzer in first-half stoppage time to take the wind out of United's sails, who had looked to be fairly flying in the first 45.

Robinson's cracker lit up an otherwise dull first half with few genuine chances of note - and the former Dundee man enjoyed it!

But Moult came back to haunt his old side with a late leveller, only for young Miller to score the winner.

Zach Robinson lets rip with a rocket shot to open the scoring for Motherwell (Image: SNS Group)

While United had looked the more attacking in the first half, they didn't do much with it, but Motherwell hadn't really got going up front until Robinson's rocket - not a bad way to score his first goal for the club.

Motherwell looked better in the second half and took the game to their visitors. They were much more potent up front, with Miller seeing a shot cleared off the line, and Jack Walton forced into some decent saves.

Moult struck late on to level for United and it looked like we were heading for extra-time, until Kaleta was brought down by Luca Stephenson.

Motherwell boss Stuart Kettlewell kept faith with the side that narrowly lost 2-1 at Aberdeen last weekend, though Apostolos Stamatelopoulos was fit enough for a place on the bench.

Motherwell's Lennon Miller skips past Craig Sibbald of Dundee United (Image: SNS Group)

His Dundee United counterpart Jim Goodwin made one change to the side that lost 1-0 to Rangers on Sunday, with captain Ross Docherty in for Kevin Holt.

United had the first meaningful shot on goal in nine minutes, but Kristijan Trapanovski curled his shot round the top right corner from just inside the left corner of the box.

Trapanovski had a low effort saved in 16 minutes as United threatened again.

Andy Halliday tried to send Zach Robinson through on goal in 23 minutes for Motherwell, but he was well blocked off.

Davor Zdravkovski of Motherwell and Dundee United's David Babunski challenge for the ball (Image: SNS Group)

Will Ferry tried his luck with a lobbed shot in 28 minutes that Aston Oxborough took at the right post at the second attempt.

Zach Robinson went on a run in 32 minutes, but his low, angled shot was well held by United keeper Jack Walton.

Trapanovski was causing problems and after having a cross from the left caught by Oxborough, the keeper was forced to tip a dipping shot past the right post in 36 minutes from the same area.

Docherty let fly with a shot that flew just past the left post in 58 minutes as United tried to get back level.

At the other end Miller sent a shot inches past the right post on the stretch in 60 minutes, with a deflection earning a corner.

Robinson celebrates his first ever goal for Motherwell (Image: SNS Group)

Halliday's corner caused pinball in the box, with Miller seeing a shot cleared off the line.

United sub Louis Moult - a former hero around these parts - had a header saved by Oxborough in 76 minutes.

Moult then sent Sam Dalby through on goal, but his low shot was brilliantly diverted over the bar by Oxborough's legs in 77 minutes, when an equaliser looked likely.

But Motherwell did bag a leveller in 83 minutes through Moult, volleying past Oxborouugh.

Sub Apostolos Stamatelopoulos had a header saved at point-blank range in 88 minutes.

Marvin Kaleta was decked for a penalty two minutes into stoppage time, and Miller stepped up to smash it into the bottom left corner.

MOTHERWELL Oxborough, McGinn, Gordon, Casey, O'Donnell (Kaleta, 51), Zdravkovski, Halliday (Sparrow, 78), Wilson, Miller, Maswanhise (Ebiye, 78), Robinson (Stamatelopoulos, 82)

Subs (not used): Hegyi (GK), Seddon, Balmer, Stamatelopoulos, Wells, Tavares

Booked: McGinn (68)

DUNDEE UNITED: Walton, Adegboyega (Ubohioma, 81), Gallagher, Graham, Ferry, Sibbald, Stephenson, Docherty, Trapanovski (Dalby, 59), Babunski (Middleton, 73), van der Sande (Moult, 59).

Subs (not used): Richards (GK), Holt, Sevelj, Odada, Thomson.

Booked: Sibbald (45+1), Adegboyega (52), Gallagher (85), Stephenson (87)

Referee: John Beaton.

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