St Mirren advanced to the semi-finals of the Premier Sports Cup following a dramatic penalty shootout victory over Kilmarnock on penalties after a thrilling 2-2 draw at Rugby Park. The decisive moment came when former St Mirren midfielder Kyle Magennis had his penalty saved by goalkeeper Shamal George, allowing Malik Dijksteel to convert the winning spot-kick, securing a 5-3 triumph in the shootout. This victory marks St Mirren’s first semi-final appearance in 12 years, igniting celebrations among their supporters.
The match unfolded with both teams displaying attacking intent. St Mirren took the lead on two occasions, first through a stunning goal from Mikael Mandron and later from Jayden Richardson. Kilmarnock responded each time, with goals from Robbie Deas and Bruce Anderson leveling the score.
Match Highlights and Key Moments
The opening exchanges set the tone for an engaging encounter. St Mirren’s Jonah Ayunga nearly opened the scoring in the second minute, hitting the side-netting with a cross. At the opposite end, goalkeeper George saved a chance from Kilmarnock’s David Watson.
The first goal arrived in the 25th minute when Richardson intercepted a cross and launched a counter-attack. He found Mandron, who expertly lobbed the ball over defender Lewis Mayo before finishing with precision into the far corner. Kilmarnock leveled just before halftime when Dom Thompson delivered an outswinging free-kick, allowing Deas to power a header into the net.
St Mirren regained the lead shortly after the interval when Richardson volleyed a clearance into the top corner from 22 yards in the 59th minute. Kilmarnock, determined to respond, brought on Bruce Anderson, but they faced further challenges as St Mirren continued to threaten.
A pivotal moment for Kilmarnock came in the 86th minute when Anderson was awarded a penalty after being fouled by defender Richard King. He calmly converted the spot-kick, bringing the score to 2-2 and sending the match into extra time.
Penalty Shootout Drama
The tension escalated during extra time, as both teams struggled to find a decisive blow. Despite multiple attempts, neither side could break the deadlock, leading to a penalty shootout.
In the shootout, Magennis’s miss proved costly for Kilmarnock. St Mirren converted five of their penalties, while Kilmarnock managed only three successful strikes. As Dijksteel’s penalty sealed the victory, jubilant St Mirren fans flooded the pitch in celebration.
This victory not only propels St Mirren into the semi-finals but also revives memories of their last cup victory in 2013. The club’s journey to the semi-finals follows a challenging period during the Covid-affected 2020-21 season, where they faced exits in both cup competitions. The triumph serves as a significant milestone for the team and its supporters, who are eager for another memorable day at Hampden.
As the tournament progresses, St Mirren will seek to build on this momentum and aim for further success in the Premier Sports Cup.
