Bet McLean League Cup quarter-final
Larne 2 Linfield 2 (Linfield won 3-2 on penalties)
LINFIELD progressed to the semi-final of the Bet McLean League Cup as they won on 3-2 on penalties at Inver Park.
Chris Johns denied Lee Bonis from the final spot-kick following a 2-2 draw and they will now face either Newry or Dungannon Swifts for a place in the final.
The first chance of the game came after just three minutes when Joshua Archer saw his volley from the edge of the penalty area tipped over the bar by Rohan Ferguson.
Moments after sending an effort of his own just wide of the post, Larne midfielder Jaziel Orozco then gifted Linfield the best chance of the first half.
His wayward pass was intercepted by Joel Cooper with just Cian Bolger between him and the goal, but he saw his effort from the edge of the box saved by Ferguson.
Chances were hard to come by for both sides, but Andy Ryan still came close to opening the scoring with a long-range effort in the 36th minute.
However, with his shot going wide of the far post the sides went into the half-time break with the scores level at 0-0.
With 79 minutes played, a driving run into the penalty area from Cooper saw him pick out Kyle McClean whose effort was blocked.
However, defender Aaron Donnelly saw his attempted clearance strike a team-mate in the crowded penalty area before the ball narrowly cleared the crossbar.
With the sides inseparable they headed to extra-time, where the game would explode into life.
In the 105th minute, Kyle McClean was given his marching orders as he was shown the 11th yellow and his second of the game when he fouled Aaron Donnelly at the halfway line.
Being a man down didn’t seem to impact ‘The Blues’ as they finally found the opening goal of the game in the 109th minute.
Aodhan Doherty’s whipped cross into the penalty area was met by the head of the onrushing Euan East as he headed in from six yards out.
However, in a frantic couple of minutes Linfield were pegged back when Lee Bonis got on the end of a low cross and picked out the far corner just two minutes later.
The upbeat hosts exploded into life and straight from the restart turned the game on its head as they took the lead through Leroy Millar.
Defender Cian Bolger found himself on the right wing before whipping an inch-perfect cross into the penalty area.
The unmarked Millar was first to the ball with his header picking out the top corner to make it 2-1 with six minutes to go.
A hectic couple of minutes wasn’t yet over as a fourth goal in nine minutes saw Linfield draw level once more as Braiden Doherty made it 2-2 with his first goal for the club.
With the sides going to penalties Chris Johns proved to be the match-winner, saving two of Larne’s five spot kicks to send his side through to the semi-finals.
Coleraine 2 Glenavon 3; Portadown 2 Loughgall 0
GLENAVON will face mid-Ulster rivals Portadown in the semi-final after a 3-2 win at Coleraine.
After a goalless opening half-hour, Jack Malone beat the Coleraine offside trap before running clear and firing past Gareth Deane, but Coleraine were level within two minutes through Dean Jarvis.
The Lurgan men restored their lead right on the stroke of half-time through Aaron Prendergast but they had to wait until two minutes from time for Cohen Henderson to seal the win, though Conor McKendry did pull a goal back in injury-time.
Goals in the second half from Eoghan McCawl and Eamon Fyfe saw Portadown overcome Loughgall.
The tie at Stangmore Park between Dungannon Swifts and Newry City was postponed due to "unforeseen circumstances" with the match having previously been moved back half an hour to a 20:15 GMT kick-off.
The officials arrived late for the game due to heavy traffic before referee Shane Andrews called the game off due to concerns over the pitch.
