Falkirk 2 – 1 Ayr United

Substitute Kai Kennedy’s late strike earned Falkirk a dramatic 2-1 win over Ayr United to arrange a Scottish Cup semi-final towards Inverness.

Somerset Park striker Dipo Akinyemi scored his twenty first objective of the season for Lee Bullen’s Championship facet 12 minutes earlier than the house facet kicked off, ultimately and deservedly equalizing within the 66th minute due to a Callumn Morrison penalty.

Ayr’s Chris Maguire hit a publish with an 81st-minute penalty earlier than Kennedy fired house minutes later to place John McGlynn’s facet in League One for the primary time since 2015.

They reached the ultimate that yr earlier than dropping to Inverness, towards whom they have been drawn within the semi-finals moments after the ultimate whistle, with Celtic going through Rangers within the different draw.

There have been nonetheless queues attempting to enter the pitch when the sport began, Akinyemi making a primary impression and, after Falkirk himself started to threaten, propelling the guests into the lead.

There was nonetheless lots to do when the highly effective striker made room on the sting of the field after gathering a header from Sam Ashford, however he turned defender Coll Donaldson and fired a low shot previous the keeper Brian Kinner.

Flares hit the pitch from the stand that housed Ayr’s followers, delaying the restart, however when the sport resumed Akinyemi shortly examined Kinnear with one other drive, this time saving on the expense of a nook kick, which got here to nothing. .

The previous Welling participant then missed Ashford’s inviting cross from the left only a yard from objective as Bairns faltered beneath strain.

Falkirk got here again into the sport and within the thirty fifth minute Donaldson headed in from a Max Kucheriavyi nook on the second try after which drew extra moans when he kicked badly in entrance of objective after the ball was handed to him fell on it on the subsequent nook.

The house facet continued their extra assertive play within the second half and Ayr needed to work exhausting to fend off a sequence of assaults.

McGlynn introduced in Gary Oliver and Kennedy for Aidan Nesbitt and Matthew Wright across the hour mark and the Bairns shortly equalized.

Falkirk followers roared for penalty referee Nick Walsh awarded it for the handball towards Frankie Musonda after a nook kick and Morrison drove his low kick previous Aidan McAdams and into the nook of the web.

Ayr, shocked by their scenario, fired again instantly and Kinnear made saves from Akinyemi, Ashford after which Akinyemi once more as a crunching cup tie continued.

Walsh once more pointed the spot when Donaldson introduced down Musonda contained in the field, however Maguire hit a publish after which touched the ball once more to be penalized.

Two minutes later, Falkirk snatched victory as Kennedy’s long-range drive swerved the ill-fated Musonda and beat McAdams, who additionally needed to make a stoppage in damage time from Morrison to forestall a 3rd.