Aberdeen 2 - 2 Livingston

Following Livingston's 6-0 defeat at Celtic the previous weekend, David Martindale made just the one change, Robby McCrorie replaced by Max Stryjek in goal.

Jonny Hayes took a nasty whack on the right hip four minutes in but looked to run it off as the game opened up with both sides playing at 100mph. Moments later, Livi worked the first opening, Emmanuel-Thomas threading a cross along the deck and right through the box from wide on the left. Running onto it, Devlin hit it first time and his shot drifted wide - fortunately, he didn't realise quite how much time he had and rushed his effort when he might have taken a touch.

Niall McGinn set the Dons away on 16 minutes, winning the ball on halfway and then driving forward. He picked out Hayes on the overlap, McLennan running onto his cross but steering his effort wide of goal as the home side really opened up their opponents.

Two minutes later, Joe Lewis came dashing a dozen yards off his line to collect a free-kick, colliding heavily with Guthrie and taking a sore one in the ribs. He needed lengthy treatment before he was finally able to continue.

Nice play from Aberdeen switched the ball from right to left to give Kennedy a crossing opportunity on 26 minutes, Stryjek claiming the ball safely. Minutes later, Andrew Considine, Kennedy and McGinn worked well down the left only for Livi to clear their lines from the cross.
Aberdeen were getting some real joy down the left, Kennedy away again on the half hour, drilling in a low cross to the top of the box. Hornby wrapped his foot around it but Stryjek was down sharply to his right to save.

The hosts were forced into a change on 36 minutes, Lewis having to give best to his injury, Woods coming on to replace him and make his debut for the club, Considine taking the captain's armband. Sadly, Woods' first job was to pick the ball out of the net. Hayes misjudged the ball on the left flank, looking to let it go out for a throw, only for Emmanuel-Thomas to nip in and take the ball. Darting forward, he found Pittman and carried on his run into the box to collect the return pass and slot the ball past Woods.

HALF-TIME: ABERDEEN 0 LIVINGSTON 1

The second half started sharply, Dean Campbell spearing in a free-kick from the left wing, Lewis Ferguson getting in front of the defence and meeting the ball with a good header, Stryjek down to his right to save well. Livi responded with Pittman firing wide after Tommie Hoban was dispossessed 30 yards out on 48 minutes.

Kamberi replaced Hornby on 59 minutes as the Dons looked to find a way back into the tie. A minute later, Forrest managed to bundle his way into the Aberdeen area, Woods doing well to cut out his low drive at full stretch. He had to be lively five minutes later, diving to punch a dangerous looking free-kick clear of the penalty area. Hoban went into the book on 66 minutes, hauling down Forrest as he looked to get in behind. Guthrie quickly followed him in there for a foul on Hayes. Holt was next to be cautioned for a late tackle on Ferguson.
Hendry was next to be introduced by Stephen Glass, replacing McLennan on 72 minutes. Fitzwater then saw yellow for a foul on Kamberi as the referee made it four bookings in seven minutes.

With 13 minutes left, Aberdeen were level, a quick break from a dangerous looking Livi attack, the old firm of Hayes and McGinn doing the trick. Kamberi played Hayes away down the left and his cross picked out McGinn. Some 16 yards out, he took a touch and picked his spot in the top corner to rifle the ball past Stryjek.

The Dons were transformed now, McGinn releasing Kennedy on the right in the 79th minute. Trying to beat the goalkeeper at the near post, he thundered his shot into the side netting. Livi weren't done though, Sibbald causing Woods problems with a shot from 35 yards after 82 minutes. The visitors made their first change on 84 minutes, Forrest replaced by Poplatnik. A minute later, Ferguson collided with Stryjek, the goalkeeper requiring the touch of the magic sponge before he carried on.

Stryjek had to be quick off his line in the 88th minute, heading clear some 25 yards out as a long ball from Hoban almost got Kamberi in on goal. Kennedy then scooped over the bar deep into injury-time as the game edged towards an extra half an hour.

FULL-TIME: ABERDEEN 1 LIVINGSTON 1

Lithgow came on for Livi at the start of extra-time, Sibbald making way. Within two minutes, the referee pointed to the spot for a very controversial penalty for Livi, Campbell barely touching Emmanuel-Thomas who fell to the floor. He stepped up to take the penalty and buried it in the top corner, leaving the Dons with it all to do again. Aberdeen have certainly not had the rub of the green when it has come to penalties this season.

In the 95th minute, McGinn set Kamberi away down the left, but after cutting inside, rather than hitting it first time, he gave Stryjek the chance to make a smothering save. No matter, the Dons recycled the ball and Kamberi found Hendry on the edge of the box. He worked the ball on to McGinn just inside the box and he played a nicely directed pass back inside, Kamberi continuing his run and stretching to get the crucial touch past Stryjek from eight yards out and bring the game level once more.

Three minutes later, McGinn miscued a shot from just inside the area but it looped up awkwardly and landed on the roof of the net with Stryjek watching it nervously. Hoban was then maybe a little fortunate not to collect a second yellow after being late on a tackle on Pittman.
Hendry was next in the wars, caught in the ribs by Fitzwater as he chased a cross and he too needed some lengthy treatment before he too carried on. Next, McCrorie was flattened in a clash of heads with Poplatnik, both men receiving treatment. While that was going on, Ethan Ross replaced McGinn. Emmanuel-Thomas was inches away from a hat-trick, bullying McCrorie off the ball then bustling forward before swiping a shot across the face of goal and just wide.

EXTRA-TIME HALF-TIME: ABERDEEN 2 LIVINGSTON 2

McMillan replaced Longridge for Livingston as the game entered its final 15 minutes.

Hendry had the first chance, Hendry holding the ball up well, then turning into space 20 yards out before pulling his shot wide. In the aftermath, both Fitzwater and Bartley went down, both with an attack of cramp, Fitzwater making way for Taylor-Sinclair.

Aberdeen had Livingston penned in now, but with plenty of bodies in the box, the Dons couldn't find the finishing touch as Kamberi and Ferguson played the ball in in quick succession in the 112th minute. With three minutes left, Stryjek went into the book for time wasting over a goal kick. Hayes joined him in there for a late challenge on Holt.

EXTRA-TIME FULL-TIME: ABERDEEN 2 LIVINGSTON 2

Aberdeen were first up in the shootout.

Ferguson scored straight down the middle - Aberdeen 1 Livingston 0
Lithgow hammered into the roof of the net - Aberdeen 1 Livingston 1
Kamberi rolled the ball into the bottom corner - Aberdeen 2 Livingston 1
Holt crashed his shot against the bar - Aberdeen 2 Livingston 1
Hendry sent the keeper the wrong way - Aberdeen 3 Livingston 1
Emmanuel-Thomas sent Woods the wrong way - Aberdeen 3 Livingston 2
Campbell put the ball into the bottom corner - Aberdeen 4 Livingston 2
Taylor-Sinclair beats Woods in the bottom corner - Aberdeen 4 Livingston 3
McCrorie wins the tie with a clinical penalty - Aberdeen 5 Livingston 3