Scottish League Cup semi-final Motherwell 1 Celtic 2: Shaun Maloney rifled home a controversial late winner to break Motherwell hearts and put Celtic into the League Cup final. Maciej Zurawski had saved the blushes of club and country team-mate Artur Boruc with a first-half equaliser.
Boruc, the Polish number one, made a complete mess of a cross to allow former Shelbourne striker Richie Foran to head Motherwell into a surprise lead.
But livewire Maloney put Zurawski in for his goal before having the final say by blasting John Hartson's indirect free-kick through a ruck of Motherwell players, after referee Craig Thomson had adjudged Graeme Smith to have collected Martyn Corrigan's poor back-pass.
It was the usually reliable Boruc whose calamitous mistake in the 12th minute gifted Motherwell a shock lead. Corrigan played the ball back for Kevin McBride to lob the ball towards the edge of the six-yard box.
But the Polish goalkeeper looked as edgy as those around him as he made a poor effort to get to the ball, allowing Foran to leap above him and head into the empty net.
Celtic replied with Mo Camara picking out Hartson at the far post but his downward header was easily saved by Graeme Smith, who came in for Colin Meldrum in the only change from the draw at Dunfermline.
Maloney produced some inspiration with a brilliant pass for Maciej Zurawski's 29th-minute equaliser. The youngster picked the ball up in his own half and ran at the Motherwell defence. He then looked up and flicked a fine pass into the path of the Pole, who managed to force the ball past Smith and into the net.
But Motherwell were the more dangerous team and Boruc made another great save from Scott McDonald's header moments later after Foran had crashed a volley just over the crossbar from inside the area.
Hartson was the first man to be booked in the 79th minute and deservedly so after challenging Smith after collecting the ball.
Corrigan put his side in all sorts of trouble with four minutes of normal time left as Smith had to save his backpass and Maloney made them pay with a late winner.
With the Motherwell players sprinting off their line, the youngster blasted Hartson's free-kick into the net from close range to put Celtic into the final against Dunfermline.
MOTHERWELL: Graeme Smith, Corrigan, Craigan, McLean, Hammell, McBride (O'Donnell 89), McCormack, Kerr, Foran, Scott McDonald, Hamilton (Thermeus 89). Subs not used: Meldrum, Fagan, Reynolds. Booked: Craigan. Goal: Foran 11.
CELTIC: Boruc, Virgo (Keane 89), McManus, Varga, Camara (Pearson 72), Nakamura (Thompson 65), Petrov, Lennon, Maloney, Zurawski, Hartson. Subs not used: Marshall, Dublin. Booked: Hartson. Goals: Zurawski 29, Maloney 88.
Referee: C Thomson (Scotland).
