Ross County win group but lose penalty shoot-out to Kelty Hearts to be unseeded in last 16 draw of Viaplay Cup
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Viaplay Cup
Ross County 3
Kelty Hearts 3
(Kelty Hearts win 4-3 on penalties)
Scorers - County: Sims (13) Murray (29) Brown (85) Kelty: McCluskey (32) Biabi (58) Cunningham (90 pen)
Ross County are through to the last 16 of the Viaplay Cup after winning the group but will be unseeded after losing the penalty shoot-out to Kelty Hearts.
The Staggies will be unseeded for tomorrow's draw which takes place after Dundee v Caley Thistle and could face Aberdeen, Airdrie, Ayr United, Celtic, Hearts, Hibernian, Motherwell or Rangers in the next round.
Ross County took the lead after 13 minutes when a cross from the right wing from Yan Dhanda found Josh Sims in the box, who unchallenged fired a thunderous effort into the net from 12 yards.
Ross County doubled their advantage just before the half hour mark. Dhanda's long ball found Jordan White in the centre of midfield.
His flick on found Simon Murray who beat the offside trap and was one on one with the goalkeeper before firing a low drive past goalkeeper Kyle Gourlay.
But Kelty responded almost immediately and pulled one back when Stefan McCluskey charged into the box unchallenged and unleashed a powerful drive from 12 yards out which Ross Laidlaw had no chance of stopping.
The Fifers equalised in the 58th minute when Biotti Biabi beat the County defence in the air to a corner kick and nod home from four yards out.
They nearly took the lead on the hour mark when Biabi set up Ross Cunningham who only had the goalkeeper to beat but fired wide from 12 yards.
Kelty had another chance to take the lead with 10 minutes left when Tiwi Daramola beat Yan Dhanda for pace down the right wing and his cross found an unchallenged Ross Cunningham eight yards from goal, but he blasted over the bar.
Ross County thought they grabbed victory with five minutes remaining as James Brown connected with a cross on the edge of the six yard box.
But Kelty were awarded a penalty in injury time when Jack Baldwin was guilty of bringing down Biabi.
Cunningham kept his cool to fire his shot past the hand of Laidlaw to force a penalty shoot-out.
Yan Dhanda, Kyle Turner and Eamonn Brophy score Ross County's opening penalties with Ross Cunningham, Lewis Moore and Reece Lyon scoring Kelty's first three penalties.
With the shoot-out at 3-3 both Scott Allardice and Tiwi Daramola missed their club's fourth penalties.
Josh Sims then saw his penalty saved allowing Biatti to score the winner and give Kelty the bonus points.
Ross County now prepare for the start of the new Premiership season with a trip to champions Celtic next Saturday.
Ross County: Laidlaw, Randall (Allardice 64), Brown, Baldwin, Dhanda, Sims, Loutri (Turner 64), Murray (Brophy 77), Harmon (Reid 77), White (Samuel 58), Nightingale.
Subs (Unused) Munro, Sheaf, Henderson, Smith.
Kelty Hearts: Gourlay, Corbett, Thomson, Daramola, Johnston (Biabi 45), Cunningham, McCluskey (Campbell 56), Tidser (L Owens 72), B Owens, Moore.
Subs (Unused) Cameron.
Referee: Steven Maclean.
