Scottish League Cup
MotherwellMotherwell3AberdeenAberdeen0

Scottish League Cup: Motherwell 3-0 Aberdeen

By Kenny CrawfordBBC Sport Scotland at Fir Park
Motherwell's Peter Hartley (right)
Peter Hartley (right) celebrates Motherwell's second goal

Motherwell comfortably beat Aberdeen to secure a place in the League Cup semi-finals where they will play Rangers.

An inventive flick by Louis Moult was helped into the net by the usually reliable Aberdeen goalkeeper Joe Lewis.

Lewis was at fault again when he allowed Peter Hartley's downward header to squeeze into the net.

Well's Allan Campbell hit both posts with a volley before Moult's superbly finished ninth of the season wrapped up a memorable night for the home fans.

It was Motherwell's fourth consecutive Fir Park win and they reach their first League Cup semi-final in seven years. Their tie against Rangers and the semi between Hibernian and Celtic will take place on 21 and 22 October.

Young midfielder Campbell set the tone for this match in the opening minute, hassling and pressing Aberdeen into conceding an early throw-in.

Much has been made of the 19-year-old's impressive, battling performances of late and his hounding was a hallmark of the hosts' play for the rest of the game.

Aberdeen did have one early chance before Motherwell took over - Gary Mackay-Steven's effort deflected wide by Chris Cadden after Ryan Christie's shot had been pushed away by goalkeeper Trevor Carson.

Soon after, the Steelmen were ahead. Kenny McLean lost out to Carl McHugh in the middle of the park, and the Irishman released Ryan Bowman, who skilfully located Moult for the unorthodox flicked finish.

Moult had his back to goal when he put the ball over his own head and it might not have even been heading towards goal when Lewis flapped it into his own net.

Motherwell doubled their lead when McLean conceded a free-kick out wide and Stevie Hammell curled in a lovely, deep delivery for Hartley to head in his first goal for the club. But Dons goalkeeper Lewis was at fault again - the downward header straight at him but somehow squirming through.

Motherwell's Louis Moult (second right) scores the third goal
Louis Moult (second right) watches as his shot beats Joe Lewis for Motherwell's third goal

Cadden had been causing Mackay-Steven all sorts of problems down the Motherwell right and it caused Dons manager Derek McInnes enough concern to make a first-half substitution and tactical switch, with Adam Rooney replacing the former Celtic man.

Cadden and Bowman went close to making it three before the break and McInnes sent his men out five minutes early for the second half.

The flow of chances continued to be in Motherwell's favour as Moult had a shot blocked by Andy Considine then another beaten away by Lewis.

Rooney spurned a half-chance and, soon after, a goal-line clearance was required from Aberdeen captain Graeme Shinnie from another Hartley effort.

A superb solo run by Christie forced a great save from Carson as the large away support sensed a revival, but Motherwell hit the woodwork as Campbell's volley hit one post, rolled along the line and hit the other upright.

Motherwell did get their third, though, when Moult capitalised on Considine switching off to latch on to a long ball and lash the ball home from a tight angle.

Line-ups

Motherwell

Formation 4-4-1-1

  • 1Carson
  • 2Tait
  • 21KipreBooked at 42mins
  • 6Hartley
  • 3HammellBooked at 59mins
  • 7CaddenBooked at 77mins
  • 8McHugh
  • 22Campbell
  • 15RoseSubstituted forGrimshawat 70'minutesBooked at 87mins
  • 12BowmanSubstituted forFisherat 87'minutesBooked at 90mins
  • 9MoultSubstituted forTannerat 90+2'minutes

Substitutes

  • 4Grimshaw
  • 5Bigirimana
  • 11Frear
  • 13Griffiths
  • 14Plummer
  • 17Fisher
  • 27Tanner

Aberdeen

Formation 4-1-4-1

  • 1Lewis
  • 2Logan
  • 5O'Connor
  • 6ReynoldsSubstituted forArnasonat 52'minutes
  • 4Considine
  • 18BallSubstituted forTanseyat 67'minutes
  • 22ChristieBooked at 88mins
  • 7McLean
  • 3Shinnie
  • 11Mackay-StevenSubstituted forRooneyat 37'minutes
  • 83May

Substitutes

  • 8Stewart
  • 9Rooney
  • 10Maynard
  • 14Arnason
  • 15Wright
  • 16Tansey
  • 20Rogers
Referee:
Kevin Clancy
Attendance:
6,430

Match Stats

Home TeamMotherwellAway TeamAberdeen
Possession
Home48%
Away52%
Shots
Home7
Away9
Shots on Target
Home4
Away3
Corners
Home5
Away4
Fouls
Home18
Away13

Live Text

  1. Post update

    Match ends, Motherwell 3, Aberdeen 0.

  2. Full Time

    Second Half ends, Motherwell 3, Aberdeen 0.

  3. Substitution

    Substitution, Motherwell. Craig Tanner replaces Louis Moult.

  4. Post update

    Louis Moult (Motherwell) wins a free kick on the right wing.

  5. Post update

    Foul by Andrew Considine (Aberdeen).

  6. Post update

    Richard Tait (Motherwell) wins a free kick in the attacking half.

  7. Post update

    Foul by Ryan Christie (Aberdeen).

  8. Booking

    Alex Fisher (Motherwell) is shown the yellow card for a bad foul.

  9. Post update

    Foul by Alex Fisher (Motherwell).

  10. Post update

    Shaleum Logan (Aberdeen) wins a free kick on the left wing.

  11. Booking

    Ryan Christie (Aberdeen) is shown the yellow card for a bad foul.

  12. Post update

    Richard Tait (Motherwell) wins a free kick on the left wing.

  13. Post update

    Foul by Ryan Christie (Aberdeen).

  14. Substitution

    Substitution, Motherwell. Alex Fisher replaces Ryan Bowman.

  15. Post update

    Foul by Louis Moult (Motherwell).

  16. Post update

    Graeme Shinnie (Aberdeen) wins a free kick in the defensive half.

  17. Booking

    Liam Grimshaw (Motherwell) is shown the yellow card for a bad foul.

  18. Goal!

    Goal! Motherwell 3, Aberdeen 0. Louis Moult (Motherwell) right footed shot from the right side of the box to the high centre of the goal. Assisted by Chris Cadden.

  19. Post update

    Hand ball by Ryan Bowman (Motherwell).

  20. Post update

    Hand ball by Carl McHugh (Motherwell).

Scores, Results & Fixtures

Thursday 21st September 2017

As It Stood

A

TeamPWDLFAGDPts
1Falkirk44001311212
2Inverness CT42115328
3Stirling42116517
4Brechin401319-82
5Forfar4013310-71

B

TeamPWDLFAGDPts
1Dunfermline42201331010
2Peterhead43017619
3Hearts42117437
4East Fife411236-34
5Elgin4004213-110

C

TeamPWDLFAGDPts
1Dundee Utd4310102811
2Dundee431082610
3Raith Rovers42029546
4Cowdenbeath4103511-63
5Buckie Thistle4004315-120

D

TeamPWDLFAGDPts
1Hibernian43101311210
2Ross County422080810
3Arbroath412167-16
4Montrose4103215-133
5Alloa401328-61

E

TeamPWDLFAGDPts
1Ayr44001531212
2Kilmarnock43019369
3Clyde4202711-46
4Annan Athletic4013210-82
5Dumbarton401328-61

F

TeamPWDLFAGDPts
1Motherwell44001221012
2Morton42118628
3Queen's Park42119907
4Edinburgh City4013312-92
5Berwick401347-31

G

TeamPWDLFAGDPts
1Hamilton422011659
2Albion413012937
3Queen of Sth41306427
4East Kilbride411259-45
5Stenhousemuir401339-62

H

TeamPWDLFAGDPts
1Livingston431083511
2Partick Thistle431092710
3St Mirren42029726
4Airdrieonians4103410-63
5Stranraer4004412-80
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