2013 Scottish League Cup final explained

2013 Scottish League Cup final
Event:2012–13 Scottish League Cup
Team1:St Mirren
Team1score:3
Team2:Heart of Midlothian
Team2score:2
Date:17 March 2013
Stadium:Hampden Park
City:Glasgow
Man Of The Match1a:Paul McGowan (St Mirren)
Referee:Craig Thomson
Attendance:44,036
Previous:2012
Next:2014

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 Pittodrie 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 major trophy since the 1987 Scottish Cup victory.[4] [5]

Route to the final

See main article: 2012–13 Scottish League Cup. 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

width=80Round ! width=160Opposition ! width=80Score
Second round 5–1 (h)
Third round 1–0 (h)
Quarter-final 1–1 (4–2 p) (a)
Semi-final 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.[6]

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.[7]

St Mirren drew with Aberdeen in the quarter-finals, but were victorious on penalty kicks.[8]

St Mirren beat Celtic in the semi-final with a magnificent display. Paul McGowan, formerly of Celtic, was one of the Saints' three goalscorers.[9]

Hearts

width=80Round ! width=160Opposition ! width=80Score
Third round 3–1 (h)
Quarter-final 1–1 (5–4 p) (a)
Semi-final 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.[10] 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.[11]

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.[12]

Match

Details

ST MIRREN:
GK1 Craig Samson
RB2 David van Zanten
CB14 Marc McAusland
CB6 Jim Goodwin (c)
LB3 Paul Dummett
RM21
CM10 Paul McGowan
CM24
LM29
CF9
CF77
Substitutes:
GK16 Grant Adam
DF5
MF11
MF17
FW19
Manager:
Danny Lennon
HEARTS:
GK1 Jamie MacDonald
RB19
CB6 Andy Webster (c)
CB4 Danny Wilson
LB29 Kevin McHattie
RM7
CM5
CM10
LM14
CF21
CF9
Substitutes:
GK13 Mark Ridgers
DF28 Brad McKay
MF15
MF18
FW37
Manager:
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

Notes and References

  1. Web site: St Mirren seal historic League Cup win. 17 March 2013. ESPN. 20 March 2013 .
  2. Web site: St Mirren's Cup win worth the wait. 17 March 2013. BBC Sport. 20 March 2013 .
  3. Web site: St Mirren 3 Hearts 2: Saints write their names in league cup history after 67 years . 17 March 2013 . Daily Record . 20 March 2013 . dead . https://web.archive.org/web/20130321002912/http://www.dailyrecord.co.uk/sport/football/football-news/st-mirren-3-hearts-2-1771319 . 21 March 2013 .
  4. Web site: St Mirren 3 Hearts 2: Trophy hunt finally ends after 26 years. https://ghostarchive.org/archive/20220501/https://www.independent.co.uk/sport/football/scottish/st-mirren-3-hearts-2-trophy-hunt-finally-ends-after-26-years-8538280.html . 2022-05-01 . subscription . live. 17 March 2013. The Independent. 20 March 2013 .
  5. Web site: Scottish Communities League Cup final: St Mirren 3 Hearts 2. 17 March 2013. Daily Telegraph. 20 March 2013 .
  6. News: St Mirren 5–1 Ayr United . BBC Sport . 29 August 2012 . 29 August 2012.
  7. News: St Mirren 1–0 Hamilton . BBC Sport . 25 September 2012 . 25 September 2012.
  8. News: Aberdeen 2–2 St Mirren (2–4 pens) . BBC Sport . 30 October 2012 . 30 October 2012.
  9. News: St Mirren 3–2 Celtic . BBC Sport . 27 January 2013 . 27 January 2013.
  10. News: Hearts 3 – 1 Livingston . BBC Sport . 25 September 2012 . 25 September 2012.
  11. News: Dundee United 1–1 Hearts (4–5 pens) . BBC Sport . 31 October 2012 . 31 October 2012.
  12. News: Inverness 1–1 Hearts (4–5 pens) . BBC Sport . 26 January 2013 . 26 January 2013.