Falkirk 2
Ayr United 1
Scottish Cup (Quarter Final)

Match Report

League One Falkirk became the first third-tier side to reach the Scottish Cup semi-finals since 2014 after coming from behind to beat Ayr United.

Dipo Akinyemi put the Championship visitors in front with a clever turn and finish, before Callumn Morrison equalised from the spot midway through the second half.

Kai Kennedy's deflected long-range strike sent a raucous home crowd into raptures late on, just minutes after Chris Maguire missed a penalty of his own for Ayr.

John McGlynn's side will now play Inverness Caledonian Thistle at Hampden Park in the last four.

Ayr started the game quickly and deservedly took the lead through their main man Akinyemi, who fired into the bottom corner with the help of a deflection after spinning away from Coll Donaldson.

Lee Bullen's side probably should have doubled their advantage, but the elusive Akinyemi could not quite stretch far enough to get on the end of Maguire's fizzed cross.

Falkirk grew into the game as the first half progressed, causing Ayr plenty of problems from set-pieces - Donaldson twice headed off target from Max Kucheriavyi corners.

The home fans may have feared that the half-time whistle came at the wrong time for their side, but their momentum was not interrupted by the break.

Morrison saw a shot deflect agonisingly wide, but roared on by the home fans, the equaliser soon arrived.

Frankie Musonda inexplicably handled in his own box, and Morrison stepped up to smash a confident penalty beyond Aidan McAdams.

The equaliser seemed to spark Lee Bullen's side into life, with Akinyemi again posing problems - he forced Brian Kinnear into a good save and then rattled the post from close range.

With the pressure building, referee Nick Walsh awarded Ayr a questionable penalty, but Maguire could only hit the upright as he searched for the top corner.

His miss was to prove costly immediately, as Kennedy's ambitious strike flew into the back of McAdams' net off the head of Musonda.

Falkirk did not sit on their lead and could have added a late third, but the influential Morrison was denied a second goal by McAdams.

It was a captivating cup tie, an instant classic, and Falkirk thoroughly deserved their win.

Celebrations at the final whistle were only increased by the news of the draw, which guarantees that a lower league side will make the final.

Match report written by BBC