Motherwell 3, Morton 0: Well boss pleased to reach last-16 in cup
A first goal in seven months for Aussie striker Apostolos Stamatelopoulos inspired a Motherwell win that puts them into the last 16.
The 26-year-old's strike in 52 minutes put the Steelmen on their way to victory, with Tawanda Maswanhise's double making sure of a win that takes Jens Berthel Askou's outfit into the knockouts as Group G victors on 11 points.
Stamatelopoulos' strike was his first since a 2-2 draw against Rangers on December 29, having endured months of an injury nightmare. For Maswanhise, it was his fourth in the competition.
Askou – who denied midfielder Lennon Miller is in Italy for talks – said: 'When there's something concrete to comment on, we will.
'The goal was to get to the next round.
'We're pleased to finish with the strongest performance in the group stage. Tawanda has the potential to be a very important player for us.
'Apostolos' first goal in seven months... I don't care and I don't think he cares how it came.'
Well had a penalty claim waved away in six minutes when Stamatelopoulos went down under a Kris Moore challenge and they dominated throughout.
As if often the case, Morton nearly took the lead in the 31st minute when Tomi Adeloye fired just over.
Six minutes later, Adeloye sent himself through with a neat flick and went down under a challenge from Paul McGinn but ref Ryan Lee was not interested. Morton boss Dougie Imrie was booked for protesting.
Well went ahead seven minutes after the break, when Emmanuel Longelo's cross from the left was met on the volley by Johnny Koutroumbis and parried by James Storer, but Stamatelopoulos bundled the rebound over.
Come 83 minutes, Liam Gordon sent Maswanhise through to curl past Storer. And he bagged his second with a curling finish into the top right corner from 25 yards out, three minutes into stoppage time.
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