Tangerines skin Aberdeen to book Scottish Cup semi final spot

Dundee United striker James Grady scored a brace to inspire his side to a 4-1 win over Aberdeen in their Scottish Cup fifth round tie which secured the Taysiders a place in the semi-finals.

United got off to a flying start and by 19 minutes had taken the lead through defender Alan Archibald, who struck home past Ryan Esson from just outside the penalty area after a free kick by Barry Robson.

United finished the first half 3-1 to the good after Grady added a second and Stevie Crawford popped up with a goal to counter Richie Byrne's strike on the half hour for Aberdeen.

Aberdeen came close to equalising a few minutes after Archibald's opener but Byrne's close range header following a corner by Jamie Winter sailed over Tony Bullock's crossbar.

Winter then tested Bullock with a 35-yard drive from the left flank, but the United keeper caught the ball easily.

Grady then stretched United's lead after getting on the end of a cross by Mark Wilson to send a left-footed shot past Esson in the 29th minute.

Byrne reduced the arrears for Aberdeen four minutes later after sending a powerful close range header past Bullock in the United goal following a Winter free kick from the left wing.

However Crawford helped restore the Tangerines' two-goal lead just before half-time, the Scotland midfielder running on to a perfectly weighted pass from Jason Scotland to drill a right-footed shot past Esson from the centre of the penalty area.

Aberdeen came out hoping to reduce the arrears but their second half salvage operation stalled only two minutes in when Grady struck a great volley from the edge of the area past Esson after a neat pass by Crawford.

From then on it was mostly one-way traffic, and Aberdeen were lucky not to concede eight or nine goals as United continually threatened to humiliate them.

On Saturday Hibernian eased into the Scottish Cup semi-finals with a 2-0 win over St Mirren.

Goals from Scott Brown, making his first start since September, and Scotland international Garry O'Connor secured the win.

Brown had not played since injuring his ankle in a match against Celtic early in the season but there was no sign of rustiness as he fired home from just inside the box to give Hibs the lead on the stroke of half-time.

St Mirren battled hard after the break but the first division side were caught on the break in the 73rd minute as O'Connor put the outcome beyond doubt.

Hibs are currently third in the Scottish Premier League, on track to claim a place in next season's UEFA Cup.