Aberdeen produced a late-late show not once but twice as they beat Kilmarnock 4-3 in extra-time to book their place in the quarter-final of the Scottish Cup.
Connor Johnson’s own goal settled a remarkable tie in the Dons’ favour as Aberdeen set-up a quarter-final trip to St Mirren on February 29.
Dons boss Derek McInnes made two changes from the side which lost 2-1 to Celtic on Sunday with Funso Ojo missing out due to needing stitches to close a gash in his knee while Shay Logan dropped to the bench.
Dylan McGeouch and Craig Bryson were the players who came into the side as McInnes reverted back to the back three which served him so well in the 3-1 win at Hamilton last Tuesday.
Aberdeen made a bright start but Killie soon took control in midfield and by the 20 minute mark the Dons boss switched to back four to try to nullify the threat of the home side down the left hand side.
Frustratingly for the Dons, they were unable to threaten Laurentiu Branescu in the Kilmarnock goal at all in the first half while Joe Lewis only faced one chance of note, a 20 yard strike from Eamonn Brophy which he easily held.
But there was nothing the Aberdeen captain could do to prevent Killie from opening the scoring just before the interval as Mohamed El Makrini’s superb overhead kick beat the Dons goalkeeper.
McInnes made a triple substitution for the second half with Dean Campbell, Shay Logan and Sam Cosgrove replacing Dylan McGeouch, Connor McLennan and Craig Bryson.
Aberdeen had some much needed impetus but their need to score ensured gaps were left and Brophy had a great chance to double his side’s lead just after the hour mark when he ran clear on goal but Lewis saved his effort.
It looked like Aberdeen were heading out of the cup as the clock ticked down but Andy Considine took the game to extra-time when he stopped to head Niall McGinn’s 88th minute free kick past Branescu to make it 1-1.
The Dons did take the lead in the first minute of the additional 30, however, when Matty Kennedy headed home his first goal for the club after Branescu had parried Main’s shot.
Killie soon restored parity, however, as Brophy beat Lewis with an excellent 25 yard free kick to make it 2-2 at half-time in extra-time.
The home side looked to have won it when Nicke Kabamba tapped home from close range with four minutes of extra-time remaining but the Dons would not accept their cup fate as they turned the tie around in a dramatic finale.
Sam Cosgrove netted from the penalty spot after Lewis Ferguson had been fouled by Stuart Findlay and with injury-time being played at the end of the 120 minutes Killie sub Connor Johnson scored an own-goal when he headed Considine’s cross into his own net to give the Dons a 4-3 win.
