Inverness Caley Thistle defeat ten man Livingston to go top of League Cup group
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League Cup
Livingston 1
Inverness Caledonian Thistle 2
Scorers - Livingston: Holt (84) Inverness: Samuels (36) MacKay (68)
Inverness Caledonian Thistle have moved three points clear at the top of their group in the Premier Sports League Cup after victory at Livingston.
Austin Samuels gave Inverness lead in the first half with Daniel MacKay doubling their advantage midway through the second half.
Livingston were reduced to 10 men when goalkeeper Max Stryjek was sent off but Jason Holt pulled one back six minutes from time to set up a frantic finish.
Livingston were awarded a penalty in the closing minutes, but Holt blasted his effort above the crossbar as Inverness held on for victory.
The victory followed Inverness's win at Kelty Hearts last weekend to give them six points.
Inverness now face Albion Rovers next Tuesday and Cove Rangers next Saturday, where one win should guarantee their place in the last 16.
Inverness made four changes to the team that defeated Kelty Hearts in the opening group match.
Zak Delaney, Lewis Hyde, Daniel Mackay and Nathan Shaw all started with Billy McKay, Aaron Doran and Steven Boyd dropped to the bench and Max Ram out injured.
Inverness created a number of chances in the first half and came close to taking the lead after 20 minutes.
Robbie Deas got his head on the end of Cameron Harper's free kick which saw the ball hit the crossbar.
Livingston also created chances and almost found the net 10 minutes before half time when Nicky Devlin fired an outrageous shot from 40 metres out.
Goalkeeper Mark Ridgers was almost left flatfooted and had to tip the ball on to the crossbar before gathering comfortably.
But Inverness broke the deadlock nine minutes before half time when in a sensational counter attack, Daniel MacKay ran down the left wing and his cross into the box found Austin Samuels who beat his marker to fire into the net from eight yards out.
Livingston were reduced to 10 men in the second half when Max Stryjek was sent off when he brought down Chalmers outside the box.
Cameron Harper's free kick was on target heading straight towards the top right corner, but was parried away by substitute goalkeeper Ivan Konovalov.
But Inverness did double their advantage in the 68th minute when Daniel Mackay claimed his shot from the left wing went straight into the net before Billy Mckay got a touch on it.
Holt pulled one back six minutes from time when his shot inside the D beat Ridgers into the bottom right corner.
Livingston then had a golden chance to equalise in the closing minutes when they were awarded a penalty where George Oakley brought down Scott Bitsindou.
But Holt fired his shot above the crossbar as Inverness held on for victory.
Livingtson: Stryek, Devlin, Fitzwater, Cancar, Penrice, Kelly (Bitsindou 75), Pittman, Holt, Bahamboula (Konovalov 60) , Goncalves (Anderson 45) Nouble (Shinnie 75)
Subs: Longridge, Brandon, Montano, Oeonga, Mullin
Inverness: Ridgers, Harper, Deas, Carson, Macgregor, Hyde (Boyd 63), Mackay (Doran 71), Allardice (Oakley 77), Shaw (Mckay 63), Delaney, Samuels.
Mackay, Cairns.
Referee: Alan Muir
