Report: Dundee United 3 - Dunfermline 1
Dundee United left it late as they finally overcame Dunfermline 3-1 after extra-time in Tuesday's Scottish League Cup tie at Tannadice.
Strikes from Scott Fraser and Blair Spittal meant the Tangerines head into the quarter-final draw at the expense of their League One opponents.
Fraser and Spittal produced the decisive goals in the first half of extra-time to prevent any shock on the night.
Michael Paton fired Allan Johnston's men into a 10th-minute lead with a long-range struck which was fumbled by Luis Zwick but Callum Morris, against his former club, levelled when he headed home in the 35th minute from Fraser's cross.
Ryan Wallace was guilty of an awful miss for the visitors as half-time approached when he rounded German goalkeeper Zwick but hacked his shot across goal rather than hitting the back of the net.
The home side, spurred on by their equaliser, began to push for a winner in the second 45 minutes with Billy McKay the creator-in-chief, supported by Austrian forward Darko Bodul.
But the Pars held firm, looking dangerous on the break.
With 20 minutes remaining Spittal looked to have won it when set free by McKay, but the young winger's shot sailed wide of the far post.
McKay then had the chance to add to his two goals in tangerine but the sprawling figure of Sean Murdoch denied him. And Simon Murray put high into the stand when staring down at goal from seven yards.
At the other end the Pars had the chance to snatch a late victory but a combination of Faissal El Bakhtaoui and Michael Moffat contrived to miss when well placed.
And so it went to extra-time, and this time it was the hosts who got their noses in front.
With 96 minutes on the clock, Fraser danced past two Pars defenders before placing past Sean Murdoch from 18 yards.
And then two minutes later Spittal made it 3-1 with a fine finish from inside the area to seal United's spot in round four and keep alive their hopes of lifting some silverware this season.