Match ends, Ross County 2, Inverness CT 2.
Josh Mullin netted a dramatic injury-time equaliser to keep Ross County in the Scottish Cup after a pulsating Highland derby in Dingwall.
Inverness took an early lead through Aaron Doran's rasping long-range drive.
Ross Stewart levelled 10 minutes after the break before Brad McKay restored Caley Thistle's lead.
But with time ticking away, Mullin beat the offside trap to strike and force a replay, with the winner travelling to Dundee United in the quarter-finals.
This was a typically feisty derby between these two sides with County pushing deep into injury time for a late winner, but it was not to be.
The sides will meet again in Inverness on Tuesday, 19 February.
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'Football throws up dramatic surprise' - analysis
BBC Scotland's Brian McLauchlin in Dingwall
It may not have been a sell-out but the Highland derby more than gave those hardy fans who turned out on a chilly February evening some thrilling entertainment.
From John Beaton's opening whistle the tackles were flying in all over the park but no more than you would expect from either team.
In his pre-match interview, John Robertson said he had the belief in his side. Not just to win the game, but to go on and actually win the trophy.
And when Doran fired home in the first half that belief could easily be witnessed in his players.
County were better in the second period and when substitute Stewart levelled from a fine Michael Gardyne cross, it looked as if there was to be only one winner.
But football has a habit of throwing up surprises and McKay popped at a corner up to lash home and turn the game on its head.
However substitute Mullin had the last laugh when he raced clear and fired low past Mark Ridgers, sealing a replay that the hosts may have started to think was beyond them.
'Sums up our season' - reaction
Ross County co-manager Steven Ferguson: "We always felt there would be one more chance in the game. Josh is well onside and does great to finish it.
"The players never know when they're beaten. Sometimes it's not pretty and you have to put your shoulder to the wheel and the players deserve all the credit for that.
"I don't think either us would have wanted a replay. We're delighted we're still in the hat."
Inverness CT manager John Robertson: "It's just about being street-smart. They stopped.
"You just keep defending but they've let Josh Mullin through and he's scored. That sums up our season. We've been in the lead and given away a goal at the end. We now have a replay to play so we'll just get on with it.
"We felt we were getting close to that third goal which would have finished the game off. We didn't see where their goal was going to come from. That's the difference. That's why we're fourth in the league and County are top."
Line-ups
Ross County
Formation 4-4-2
- 1Fox
- 2Fraser
- 15WatsonBooked at 68mins
- 12Boyle
- 28van der Weg
- 8LindsaySubstituted forMcManusat 87'minutes
- 16SpenceSubstituted forMullinat 67'minutes
- 6Draper
- 7Gardyne
- 19GrahamSubstituted forStewartat 54'minutes
- 9Mckay
Substitutes
- 10McManus
- 14Mullin
- 21Munro
- 27Stewart
- 43Wallace
- 44Grivosti
- 46Murray
Inverness CT
Formation 4-4-1-1
- 1Ridgers
- 22McKayBooked at 90mins
- 5DonaldsonSubstituted forRooneyat 80'minutes
- 6McCart
- 3Tremarco
- 11WalshSubstituted forTraffordat 85'minutes
- 15WelshBooked at 25mins
- 4ChalmersBooked at 77mins
- 10Doran CoganSubstituted forMcCauleyat 77'minutes
- 7Polworth
- 19White
Substitutes
- 2Rooney
- 8McCauley
- 9Austin
- 21Mackay
- 24Trafford
- 29McHattie
- 35Macgregor
- Referee:
- John Beaton
- Attendance:
- 2,862
Match Stats
- Possession
- Home54%
- Away46%
- Shots
- Home15
- Away17
- Shots on Target
- Home5
- Away8
- Corners
- Home9
- Away6
- Fouls
- Home10
- Away12
Live Text
Post update
Full Time
Second Half ends, Ross County 2, Inverness CT 2.
Post update
Foul by Declan McManus (Ross County).
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Joe Chalmers (Inverness CT) wins a free kick in the defensive half.
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Corner, Ross County. Conceded by Shaun Rooney.
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Attempt blocked. Declan McManus (Ross County) right footed shot from outside the box is blocked.
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Ross Stewart (Ross County) wins a free kick in the attacking half.
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Foul by Brad McKay (Inverness CT).
Goal!
Goal! Ross County 2, Inverness CT 2. Josh Mullin (Ross County) right footed shot from the centre of the box to the bottom right corner. Assisted by Michael Gardyne.
Post update
Attempt saved. Declan McManus (Ross County) left footed shot from the centre of the box is saved in the bottom left corner.
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Attempt missed. Joe Chalmers (Inverness CT) left footed shot from outside the box misses to the left.
Substitution
Substitution, Ross County. Declan McManus replaces Jamie Lindsay.
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Corner, Ross County. Conceded by Jamie McCart.
Substitution
Substitution, Inverness CT. Charlie Trafford replaces Tom Walsh.
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Corner, Ross County. Conceded by Darren McCauley.
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Ross Stewart (Ross County) wins a free kick in the defensive half.
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Foul by Shaun Rooney (Inverness CT).
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Corner, Inverness CT. Conceded by Jamie Lindsay.
Substitution
Substitution, Inverness CT. Shaun Rooney replaces Coll Donaldson because of an injury.
Post update
Corner, Inverness CT. Conceded by Scott Fox.
Comments
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I've been to one of these matches before (it was sold out) at Victoria Park and the atmosphere was great for a wee ground.
Caley looked more like the home team but defensive lapses cost them. Draw probably a fair result in the end