A last-gasp winner from Billy Mckay earned 10-man Dundee United a thrilling win against Ross County in a pulsating William Hill Scottish Cup quarter-final in Dingwall.
United fell behind to a Liam Boyce goal on 24 minutes but levelled through Henri Anier on 57 minutes.
The visitors were reduced to 10 men on the hour after Mark Durnan was sent off for a foul on Brian Graham that conceded a penalty.
The ex-Tannadice made it 2-1 from the spot but Anier struck back again just five minutes later.
With just a minute to go there was mayhem among the noisy and big United away support when Mckay dived to nod home a cross from the right by Blair Spittal.
It was a performance full of character and spirit from the players and they will now huddle together to watch Sunday’s semi-final draw.
The Tangerines made four changes to the line-up that kicked off against Aberdeen in midweek.
In place of injured goalkeeper Eiji Kawashima was Luis Zwick, while Joe McGovern provided cover on the bench.
Also out was central defender Gavin Gunning. Club captain Sean Dillon was promoted from the bench, although Paul Paton kept the skipper’s armband.
Scott Fraser had to be content with a sub’s role and Ryan Dow came into that attacking midfield role.
Up front, Anier was rewarded for a bright cameo appearance against the Dons with a start, while Florent Sinama-Pongolle was on the bench.
On six minutes, a period of prolonged United pressure ended when Paton fired over after Blair Spittal had sent in a corner from the left.
There was a great escape for the visitors on 14 minutes when County striker Boyce just had Zwick to beat. United’s young German stood up well, though, and made the save, with Paton blocking the rebound from Boyce at the base of the post.
There was a real scare for the Tangerines on 19 minutes when Paton appeared to hurt his knee but the midfielder played on.
Boyce may have been denied by Zwick earlier but he made sure on 24 minutes with the opening goal.
United’s defence didn’t cover itself in glory when Jonathan Franks’ corner from the right was flicked on by Andrew Davies and Boyce was there to nod into the net from close range.
With 37 minutes on the clock, it was close to being 2-0 to County but Boyce could only play the ball to Zwick off his body when in a brilliant position in front of goal.
County also had a stand-in goalie in their team and Gary Woods almost flogged the jerseys when he fluffed a cross just before half-time but the Tangerines couldn’t capitalise.
Jackson Irvine had a go for the home team just four minutes after the break but his 25-yard shot went wide.
Rankin played the ball forward on 53 minutes to Mckay and the former Inverness men hit his strike early but didn’t trouble Woods.
The Tangerines’ efforts were rewarded just four minutes later when they made it 1-1.
The architect of the move was central defender Durnan, who picked the ball up just inside the County half and then went on a mazy.
Then ball sprung forward and, with Mckay leaving him to it, Anier stabbed the ball into the net past
The match was on fire now and County took the lead again on the hour, while United lost a man.
Durnan was left exposed as Graham raced into the box and, with Zwick not coming out to help him, the defender pulled down the former United man.
Durnan was red-carded and Graham picked himself up to score from the spot.
Remarkably, though, the Tannadice men were level just five minutes later.
Rankin played a ball deep to the back post and there was Anier to sweep a low shot home from an acute angle a great finish from the frontman.
A drive from Spittal was well saved by Woods but then came Mckay’s golden goal that send the fans behind the goal wild with delight.
Attendance: 3,052.
Ross County: G. Woods, Boyce, Foster, Irvine, Fraser, Graham (Schalk 68), Quinn, Franks (De Vita 76), Davies, M. Woods (McShane 62), Gradyne. Subs: Foden, Robertson, Murdoch, McLaughlin.
Dundee United: Zwick, Dillon, Dixon, Paton (Knoyle 65), Mckay, Rankin, Dow, Durnan, Spittal, Anier (Erskine 84), Donaldson. Subs not used: McGovern, Ofere, Murray, Fraser, Sinama-Pongolle.
Referee: Craig Thomson.