Dunfermline 0-0 Falkirk [aet; 4-2 on pens ]: Dunfermline book Scottish Cup final place after shootout victory over rivals Falkirk

Dunfermline 0-0 Falkirk [aet; 4-2 on pens ]: Dunfermline book Scottish Cup final place after shootout victory over rivals Falkirk

Scottish Championship Dunfermline reached the Scottish Cup final after a penalty shootout at Hampden, where they defeated bitter rivals Falkirk 4-2 on penalties.

It was an edgy opening 45 in the first Scottish Cup semi-final, with neither team really being able to test the opposition goalkeeper, with Calumn Morrison missing the only clear sight of goal.

Falkirk passed up the best chance of the second half after Ben Broggio curled one just wide with 20 minutes to go.

The chances started to flow in extra-time with Dunfermline missing the pick of the bunch, but ultimately the game was decided by a penalty shootout which ended 4-2 to The Pars

As it happened

Dunfermline nearly got off to the dream start at Hampden as former Falkirk winger Calumn Morrison latched onto a lovely flick-on from Chris Kane, but he rushed his finish and fired it wide when he really should have done better.

After a rocky opening period for Falkirk, the Premiership side grew into the game and started to take control, but failed to generate any clear-cut chances.

The first half came to a close with Falkirk enjoying nearly 70% of the possession, but managing just three shots, and only one on target. Dunfermline’s only effort on goal remained Morrison’s early chance, which remained the best chance from a quiet first half at Hampden.

The second half started with both teams pushing and getting into good areas, but again neither team were able to create anything of note, nor test either goalkeeper.

The best chance of the second half fell to Falkirk after 72 minutes. Substitute Kyrell Wilson found Ben Broggio in space on the left-hand side of the box, he tried to curl one low into the far corner but it whistled just past the post.

With a real lack of quality and chances for either team, the game went to extra-time after a goalless 90 minutes as the two fierce rivals could not be separated.