Wow! I can't believe we're really through. We weren't in the lead at any point of the match tonight, even in the penalty shoot-out, till Jani Sturm tapped in the winning penalty just after 10:20.
We were poor tonight and lucky too, but the players dug deep and got a result that looked unlikely for long spells.
The only change from Saturday was Jan Zemlik coming in for Jani Sturm, so we lined up
Samson
Worrell - MacKenzie - Palenik Dixon
Daquin - McDonald - Robertson - Swankie
Zemlik - Davidson
There was no keeper on the bench, the five subs were Lyle, Sturm, McHale, O'Brien & Griffin.
Dundee start well attacking the Shankly end and get a free kick only just outside the box in the first minute when Davidson is brought down. Swankie's free kick is blocked by the wall.
Livi play a neat one-two just outside our box, and Kennedy forces a good save from Samson. From a corner the ball is only half cleared to the Livi right back Mitchell who hits it beautifully on the half volley into the roof of the net from 20 yards. Samson just gets his fingertips to it but can't keep it out. Dave Webster says at half time that Samson was unsighted. 1-0 Livi after 8 minutes.
We reply immediately with Daquin being sent clear into the box. It's a good chance and the keeper does well to save Livi. A few minutes later Bob Davidson has a great turn and shot. The keeper parries and just clears before Zemlik can get to the ball. Gavin Swankie shows great skill to beat his man and cross well, but the ball is turned out for a corner.
Livi survive our pressure after their goal, and the game becomes scrappy with too many poor passes and offsides.
Dixon worries us when the ball is hammered into his chest. He is groggy and in distress, but surprisingly after Saturday's injury he is able to pull himself together and continue.
Zemlik is linking well with Davidson up front. He sends Bob through, but the shot is fierce, hasty and just too high. We're still not playing well in midfield, but chances are being created as the Livi marking is poor and they leave our players too much space, especially on our right.
A shocking pass by Dave Mackay goes straight to Swankie who sends Davidson through, but his finish is weak.
In 37 minutes we get the equaliser, and it's no great surprise. An attack down the right comes to nothing, so Worrell passes back to Gary MacKenzie, who sends a clever chipped pass back down the right wing to find Scott Robertson in space. Scotty wheels infield, beating man after man, driving into the penalty area and lashes the ball into the roof of the net from 12 yards. Simple really! Actually, it was a superb goal, better than the game deserved, though he wouldn't have got the chance against a decent defence.
We have a half chance on the half time whistle, but Davidson lashes his volley wildly over after dreadful defending by Livi failed to clear the ball, allowing Daquin to pick out Davidson.
At half time Dave Webster is predicting a 3-1 win. That seems plausible. We came back strongly after they scored, and didn't look in any great trouble afterwards, and were creating plenty of chances, without playing anywhere near as well as we did against Partick.
The second half starts much the same. McDonald is looking like he's going to come onto a great game. He has two fine runs, then after 49 minutes he's disposessed on our left with Dixon out of position. Livi quickly send the ball down the right, Dorrans crosses, and Steven Craig buries the volley. A good goal on the break, but completely against the run of play.
That seems to knock the heart out of the Dees for a long time. McDonald retreats into a shell, possible dwelling on his mistake. Worrell tries to make things happen with a good run and cross, but it's looking bleak for us. We're lucky to escape a scramble in our goalmouth. We're not defending well, and Livi are timewasting painfully, but playing well when they come forward.
After 60 minutes Sturm comes on for Zemlik, then on 71 minutes Lyle and O'Brien replace Davidson and Swankie. The subbies really liven us up, but again Samson saves us, pulling off a good save from the Livi substitute Weir.
O'Brien and McDonald link superbly on the left, O'Brien crosses, Sturm chests the ball down for Lyle but the shot is blocked. The Daquin fires in a fierce shot, very well saved by Liberda. From the corner MacKenzie's header is deflected over the bar. Dundee are piling on the pressure. McDonald hits a fierce volley and this too is deflected over.
Finally, with four minutes to go we get a penalty! O'Brien's corner is missed by everyone, hits the ground, and bounces up onto a Livi hand. Did the defender really mean to handle it? Doubt it. Do refs give these penalties? Always!
There's a nerve-wracking delay while the keeper is booked, and he tries to put off Lyle. No chance. Thump! 2-2!
Livi nearly snatch the win right at the death when McDonald is disposessed again, and from the cross a Livi player heads against the bar, and we clear.
We are mightly relieved to be heading into extra time.
Worrell has a good run and cross. Robertson has a clear header but there's no power, and the keeper saves easily. Pesir wastes a very good chance for Livi when he scoops the ball over from a great position.
Early in the second period MacKenzie commits a howler sends a headed pass-back straight to Matthews, the Livi sub. Samson rescues us with a good save. Big Gary nearly scores at the other end after great work on the right by Daquin and Lyle. MacKenzie looks like he's got to score from Lyle's cross, but a defender lunges at the ball and gets the slightest touch that means the ball pings into Gary's pus and loops over the bar from a couple of yards out! AAAAARGHH! I was sure it was going to be a goal!!!
Then finally Daquin wastes a good chance with a high shot from the edge of the area, and Lyle shoots wide with out last chance.
It's penalties at the Bobby Cox end now!
It goes like this.
Livi - Fox - scores, 0-1
Dee - Lyle - whack and in! 1-1
Livi - Mackay, scores and gets booked for gesturing to the crowd (PLONKER!) 1-2
Dee - Dixon, scores, 2-2
Livi - Dorrans, scores, 2-3
Dee - McDonald, well saved, 2-3
Livi - Snodgrass, scores, 2-4 (and I've given up now)
Dee - Worrell under pressure, scores, 3-4
Livi - Matthews to put them through - Samson saves, ya beauty!!!! But still 3-4
Dee - Robertson, no probs, 4-4
Livi - McCafferty, shaky but gets it, 4-5
Dee - O'Brien, scores, 5-5
Livi - Kennedy, great save by Samson, (Deek Lyle has lost count and rushes up to congratulate Craig - long walk back.
Dee - Sturm sends his penalty straight down the middle, and unbelievably we're through!!!!
Still can't quite believe it. For long spells we were pretty shite, but we kept working and got the break in the end. The midfield was a big disappointment after the previous few games. I'd feel sorry for Livi if it weren't for the fact that their defence was pretty poor, especially out wide, and they failed to stop us creating plenty of chances. If we'd lost tonight it would have served us right, but we got out of jail.
Man of the match - really hard to find a good candidate, but I've got to give it to Craig Samson. He really saved us tonight. Some good saves in normal time, and two crackers in the shoot out!
Whew!!!!
