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Hibernian battled into the Scottish Cup semi-finals for a third year running after Elias Melkersen’s double defeated Motherwell, who played 89 minutes with 10 men.

Hibs had the trickery of Sylvester Jasper and finishing of Melkersen – on his first start – to thank as the duo linked to put the visitors 2-0 ahead.

Joe Efford cut the deficit before the break but a leveller eluded the hosts.

Hibs struggled in the second half but they join Edinburgh rivals Hearts in the last four, with the drawing taking place after Dundee United host Celtic on Monday, while Motherwell are still looking for their second win of 2022.

The form card for both sides looked pretty dire going into this one. Hibs had failed to score in seven of their last 10 games whilst Motherwell had recorded just one win this year – beating Aberdeen in the previous round.

However, Hibs fans were buoyed by the appearance of Melkersen. The 19-year-old Norwegian had excited in brief cameos off the bench in previous weeks and was finally been given the nod for a first start. A big decision from Shaun Maloney that would ultimately prove fruitful.

Motherwell’s task became a mountain to climb when Mugabi saw red after just 55 seconds. Willie Collum wasted no time in brandishing the card after the Uganda international was deemed to have gone over the top of the ball, crunching into Doig’s shin.

The hosts could have been down to nine after just a few minutes later, had Collum not opted for a more lenient approach. This time Jordan Roberts was the offender, with Drey Wright sent sprawling the turf. The winger only saw yellow.

Doig would not be able to continue following Mugabi’s challenge and it allowed Maloney to change his tactics, bringing striker Chris Mueller on to try to make the most of the numberical advantage.

The battle of Fir Park raged on when Melkersen flew into Ricki Lamie in the air, catching the defender with an elbow to the face. The match was in danger of boiling over, without much football being played.

Thankfully, both sides remembered what they were there to do. Liam Kelly shoved a strong wrist at a Wright half-volley before Juhani Ojala saw a near-certain goal denied by the quick reflexes of Hibs goalkeeper Matt Macey.

The decision to start Melkersen was vindicated after 14 minutes. A bit of luck saw Jasper ghost past Nathan McGinley, but there was nothing fortunate about the cross – pinged straight onto the forehead of Melkersen, giving Hibs their first goal in four matches.

He repeated the trick just after the half hour. Jasper found his man again, this time with a raking long ball that split the home defence. Melkersen took a beautiful touch with his chest to control and stroked past the helpless Kelly to double Hibs’ lead.

The boyish grin on his face betrayed his composure – it was a fine piece of skill from the teenager who looks likely to lead the Hibs’ line for the foreseeable following the long-term injury to Kevin Nisbet.

Motherwell were able to get one back just before half-time, out of absolutely nothing. Hibs failed to clear sufficiently and Roberts hit a wayward shot into the box. It was probably going to fly out for a throw-in, had Efford not thrown his chest at the ball, which squirmed beyond Macey.

Melkersen should have restored Hibs’ two-goal advantage just before the interval when substitute Mueller curled a sumptuous ball into the back post but the striker couldn’t get a head to it to divert it goalward.

The second half was a much calmer affair, with Hibs unable to make it comfortable and Motherwell’s efforts to threaten an equaliser coming to nothing.

Kaiyne Woolery came closest, firing a whistling drive past the post just a few minutes after coming on, but it would not be enough.

Man of the Match – Elias Melkersen

What’s next?

Motherwell head to Perth next Saturday to take on St Johnstone in the Premiership, while Hibs are way to Aberdeen (both 15:00 GMT).