RADOSLAW CIERZNIAK was the hero as Dundee United reached the Scottish League Cup semi-finals on penalties following an enthralling 120 minutes of action at Easter Road.

The United goalkeeper saved from Matthew Kennedy and David Gray as United won 7-6 in the shoot-out after a 3-3 draw with hosts Hibernian.

United went ahead twice in seven first-half minutes through Chris Erskine and Aidan Connolly, with Dominique Malonga netting in between.

Ryan Dow's glancing header put United back in front on the hour mark, just after Jason Cummings had headed an equaliser, but Hibs substitute Kennedy levelled again with a deflected shot with 13 minutes left.

Cierzniak was booked for gamesmanship as he held up Hibs' first penalty but Scott Allan sent him the wrong way and the first 12 spot-kicks were flawless.

Former Hibs player John Rankin blazed over after a long build-up but Cierzniak then saved from Kennedy and, after Conor Townsend netted, the Pole brilliantly pushed Gray's strike over the bar with one hand.

Relieved Dundee United manager Jackie McNamara admitted the game could have gone either way when it went to sudden-death penalties.

He said: "First and foremost, give credit to Hibs - I thought it was a fantastic match.

"I don't think there was much time for breath throughout the whole match and it was a great advert for Scottish football with the amount of young talent on display.

"Obviously Hibs had a chance to win it and there was a fantastic save by Rado - then he pulled off another one to get us through to the next round.

"It is more relief than anything. It was a tiring match and the lads are absolutely drained, but it is a good feeling to have won it.

Understandably, his Hibernian counterpart Alan Stubbs was crestfallen as he saw his team miss out on a semi-final slot.

"I've just said to the lads they should be really pleased and that I'm proud of the way they played again.

"When you go to penalties, it's a lottery and I'm just proud of the ones who stepped up as it's not easy. People think taking a penalty is easy, but it takes a lot of courage and it's only easy when it goes in.

"We've gone toe to toe with one of the best teams in the country and come out of it with a lot of credit."