Dundee United 2 Motherwell 2

Scottish Cup holders Dundee United are still alive in the competition after twice coming from behind against Motherwell in their quarter-final tie at Tannadice.

The visitors enjoyed an explosive start with John Sutton heading them into the lead in the first minute. But David Goodwillie equalised through a superb overhead kick just before the interval.

However, Sutton grabbed his second goal of the contest on 72 minutes when finishing off a flowing move, only for substitute Jon Daly to equalise just sixty seconds later.

Whilst delighted at retaining their interest in the competition the result puts further pressure on Peter Houston's squad with a reply now added to their already busy fixture programme.

But he will actually be grateful for that after Sutton rose to head the visitors in front from Stevie Hammell's first-minute corner.

Recent Motherwell signing Francis Jeffers also sent an effort wide after his keeper Darren Randolph had held onto a Craig Conway free-kick.

Randolph then rescued his side with a brilliant one-handed save from a superb solo run by Goodwillie. He was though far less troubled by an effort from Prince Buaben before Dusan Pernis reacted expertly to turn over Keith Lasley's half-volley from the edge of the opposite area.

Five minutes before the break and the hosts were level as Goodwillie's acrobatic finish from a Keith Watson free-kick proved too strong for Randolph to deal with.

Back came Motherwell after the interval and Lasley forced Pernis into another good low save, while Daly headed over a Barry Douglas corner within seconds of his introduction for the home side.

The Terrors were again playing catch-up when Hammell and Jeffers combined well for Sutton to stab the visitors back in front with eighteen minutes remaining.

Straight from the restart they were back level, however, as Danny Swanson's cross escaped Goodwillie and the grateful Daly couldn't miss from five-yards.

Dundee United: Pernis, Dillon, Dixon, Douglas, Watson, Conway (Daly 62), S. Robertson, Swanson (D. Robertson 90), Buaben, Gomis, Goodwillie

subs (unused): Banks, Kenneth, Russell

Goals: Goodwillie (40), Daly (73)

Motherwell: Randolph, Saunders, Hammell, Craigan, Hutchinson, Gunning, Hateley, Lasley (Forbes 84), Murphy (Humphrey 63), Sutton, Jeffers

subs (unused): Hollis, Jones, Casagolda

Goals: Sutton (1, 72)

Ref: C. Murray

Att: 7,358

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