Van Veen helps Motherwell reach Scottish Cup quarter-finals at Aberdeen expense

Kevin Van Veen continued to torment Aberdeen as Motherwell came from behind to reach the Scottish Cup quarter-finals.

Christian Ramirez headed the visitors into a third-minute lead at Fir Park but two goals late in the first half turned the game around.

Van Veen hit his fourth goal of the season against Aberdeen to level and Connor Shields netted from close range to earn Motherwell a 2-1 victory.

A rainstorm broke out just before kick-off to accompany the high winds and Motherwell made the rare move of swapping ends after the coin toss to shoot towards their own fans in the first half.

However, the wind appeared to play a role in the opener as Vicente Besuijen’s cross held up at the far post, with Liam Kelly rooted to his line and Ramirez heading home unchallenged from three yards.

Ramirez could have doubled the lead soon after when he got the better of Juhani Ojala from a long ball but lobbed inches wide with Kelly beaten.

Motherwell struggled to get any rhythm to their attacking play and wasted some set-pieces with the heavy pitch also affecting matters, although Shields headed not far wide following a corner.

Van Veen changed the game in the 34th minute after a brilliant piece of skill. The striker turned his man just inside the box and curled a shot which hit an Aberdeen head and flew into the far corner.

The Dutchman celebrated by squaring up to former Well skipper Declan Gallagher – he duly received a yellow card.

Aberdeen soon suffered another blow when Ross McCrorie went off limping heavily although the Dons had a ready-made replacement right-back in Calvin Ramsay.

The weather was now sunny and still and the game had also turned completely on its head with Motherwell doing all the attacking.

Sean Goss fired into