Linfield leave it late to beat Ports in League Cup

Jordan Stewart scored an injury time winner as Linfield beat Portadown 2-1 in the quarter finals of the Bet McLean League Cup.

The Blues had opened the scoring in just the 7th minute when Stewart collected Kirk Millar's chipped pass before cutting inside and firing a shot that was parried into the feet of Michael O'Conner to tap home.

The goal marked a rare moment of quality in the first half, as the Blues remained largely untroubled by the home side, appearing to play most of the game in second gear.

It wasn't until the 43rd minute that Portadown threatened, but Adam Salley pulled a tame shot wide after being teed up by Ryan Carmichael.

10 minutes into the second half, Linfield went close to grabbing a second, hitting the frame of the goal twice in less than a minute. Niall Quinn rattled the underside of the bar from distance, and from the resulting corner Mark Stafford headed against the post.

Portadown began to produce moments in which they linked up well, and their 69th minute equaliser had an air of inevitability about it.

Sean Mackle's corner from the right was flicked on at the near post, and it was Ryan Carmichael coming in at the back post to connect with a header to drag his side level.

The game looked certain to be heading to extra time until Stewart popped up at the back post in injury time to score the Linfield winner after O'Conner caused some chaos in the Portadown box.

David Healy's side will go on to face Dungannon Swifts in the semi final.