2013 Scottish League Cup Final

2013 Scottish League Cup Final

The match programme cover.
Event 2012–13 Scottish League Cup
Date 17 March 2013
Venue Hampden Park, Glasgow
Man of the Match Paul McGowan (St Mirren)
Referee Craig Thomson
Attendance 44,036

The 2013 Scottish League Cup Final was the 67th final of the Scottish League Cup.The final took place on 17 March 2013 at Hampden Park, Glasgow. The clubs contesting the 2013 final were SPL clubs, St. Mirren and Hearts.

As Hearts finished in the top five of the SPL, they entered the League Cup in the third round. They made a convincing start, defeating Livingston in third round. A much tougher test awaited the Jambos in the shape of Dundee United in the quarter-finals, although they defeated the 2008/09 semi-finalists on penalty kicks. Hearts came up against Inverness CT in the semi-finals at Easter Road and were again victorious on penalties.

St. Mirren finished 8th in the SPL and entered the League Cup in the second round. They too made a fantastic start, thrashing Ayr United. Hamilton were the Buddies' opponents in the third round and Danny Lennon's men sneaked through after a goal in stoppage time. The quarter-finals saw the Saints take a trip up to Pittodire to face Aberdeen, and after a 2–2 draw after extra time, the men from Paisley won on penalties. A trip to Hampden Park for the semi-finals saw St. Mirren run out 3–2 winners against Celtic and set up a final against Hearts. St. Mirren won the final 3-2 against Hearts.[1][2][3] It was their first trophy since the 1987 Scottish Cup victory.[4][5][6]

Route to the final

Hearts were one of the five Scottish Premier League sides who entered the League Cup in the third round. St. Mirren finished 8th in the Scottish Premier League the previous season and entered the League Cup in the second round.

St. Mirren

Round Opposition Score
Second round Ayr United 5–1 (h)
Third round Hamilton 1–0 (h)
Quarter-final Aberdeen 1–1 (4–2 p) (a)
Semi-final Celtic 3–2 (n)

In the second round St. Mirren faced a home tie against Second Division team Ayr United. Five different players got on the scoresheet for the Saints and saw them through comfortably.[7]

In the next round St. Mirren faced First Division team Hamilton at St. Mirren Park. Lee Mair's goal in the 92nd minute gave the home side victory.[8]

St. Mirren drew with Aberdeen in the quarter-finals, but were victorious on penalty kicks.[9]

St. Mirren beat Celtic in the semi-final with a magnificent display. Paul McGowan, formerly of Celtic, was one of the Saints' three goalscorers.[10]

Hearts

Round Opposition Score
Third round Livingston 3–1 (h)
Quarter-final Dundee United 1–1 (5–4 p) (a)
Semi-final Inverness CT 1–1 (5–4 p) (n)

In the third round Hearts faced a home tie against First Division team Livingston. Two goals from Marius Žaliūkas and one from Danny Grainger saw the Jambos through comfortably.[11] In the next round Hearts faced fellow Scottish Premier League team Dundee United at Tannadice. Callum Paterson opened the scoring for Hearts before Johnny Russell equalised for the home side.[12]

Hearts beat Inverness CT on penalties in the semi-final. Andrew Shinnie put the Highlanders ahead shortly after half time, but debutant Michael Ngoo struck the equaliser for the Gorgie club.[13]

Details

17 March 2013
15:00
St. Mirren 3–2 Heart of Midlothian
Gonçalves  37'
Thompson  46'
Newton  66'
Report Stevenson  10', 85'
Hampden Park, Glasgow
Attendance: 44,036
Referee: Craig Thomson
St. Mirren
Hearts
ST. MIRREN:
GK1Scotland Craig Samson
RB2Republic of Ireland David van Zanten
CB14Scotland Marc McAusland
CB6Republic of Ireland Jim Goodwin (c)
LB3Wales Paul Dummett
RM21Scotland Gary Teale  83'
CM10Scotland Paul McGowan
CM24England Conor Newton
LM29Scotland John McGinn  81'
CF9Scotland Steven Thompson  77'
CF77Portugal Esmaël Gonçalves  39'  90+2'
Substitutes:
GK16Scotland Grant Adam
DF5Scotland Lee Mair  90+2'
MF11Republic of Ireland Graham Carey  81'
MF17Scotland Kenny McLean
FW19England Sam Parkin  77'
Manager:
Scotland Danny Lennon
HEARTS:
GK1Scotland Jamie MacDonald
RB19Australia Dylan McGowan
CB6Scotland Andy Webster (c)
CB4Scotland Danny Wilson
LB29Scotland Kevin McHattie
RM7Scotland Ryan Stevenson  83'
CM5Scotland Darren Barr  70'
CM10Morocco Mehdi Taouil  80'
LM14Scotland Jamie Walker  64'
CF21England Michael Ngoo  69'
CF9England John Sutton  90+4'
Substitutes:
GK13Scotland Mark Ridgers
DF28Scotland Brad McKay
MF15Scotland Jason Holt  70'
MF18Lithuania Arvydas Novikovas  64'
FW37Scotland Dale Carrick  80'
Manager:
Scotland Gary Locke

MATCH OFFICIALS

  • Referee: Craig Thomson
  • Assistant Referee 1: Alasdair Ross
  • Assistant Referee 2: Derek Rose
  • Fourth Official: Kevin Clancy

MATCH RULES

  • 90 minutes
  • 30 minutes of extra-time if necessary
  • Penalty shoot-out if scores still level
  • Five named substitutes
  • Maximum of three substitutions

References

  1. "St Mirren seal historic League Cup win". ESPN. 17 March 2013. Retrieved 20 March 2013.
  2. "St Mirren's Cup win worth the wait". BBC Sport. 17 March 2013. Retrieved 20 March 2013.
  3. "St Mirren 3 Hearts 2: Saints write their names in league cup history after 67 years". Daily Record. 17 March 2013. Retrieved 20 March 2013.
  4. "Saints survive dramatic finish to lift League Cup and win first trophy for 26 years". Daily Mail. 17 March 2013. Retrieved 20 March 2013.
  5. "St Mirren 3 Hearts 2: Trophy hunt finally ends after 26 years". The Independent. 17 March 2013. Retrieved 20 March 2013.
  6. "Scottish Communities League Cup final: St Mirren 3 Hearts 2". Daily Telegraph. 17 March 2013. Retrieved 20 March 2013.
  7. "St Mirren 5–1 Ayr United". BBC Sport. 29 August 2012. Retrieved 29 August 2012.
  8. "St Mirren 1–0 Hamilton". BBC Sport. 25 September 2012. Retrieved 25 September 2012.
  9. "Aberdeen 2–2 St Mirren (2–4 pens)". BBC Sport. 30 October 2012. Retrieved 30 October 2012.
  10. "St Mirren 3–2 Celtic". BBC Sport. 27 January 2013. Retrieved 27 January 2013.
  11. "Hearts 3 – 1 Livingston". BBC Sport. 25 September 2012. Retrieved 25 September 2012.
  12. "Dundee United 1–1 Hearts (4–5 pens)". BBC Sport. 31 October 2012. Retrieved 31 October 2012.
  13. "Inverness 1–1 Hearts (4–5 pens)". BBC Sport. 26 January 2013. Retrieved 26 January 2013.