Motherwell's are out of the Scottish Cup after a controversial 2-1 defeat to Hibs in the quarter-finals at Fir Park.
The game changed completely inside a minute when referee Willie Collum sent 'Well's Bevis Mugabi off for a challenge on Josh Doig that has sparked debate.
Teammate Jordan Roberts could have been sent off moments later and things went from bad to worse as Elias Melkersen netted for the Hibees.
He doubled his tally before half-time but Joe Efford turned the ball into Hibs' net in a rare moment of luck and hope for 'Well boss Graham Alexander.
But it was Hibs head coach Shaun Maloney who managed to prevail as they join Edinburgh rivals Hearts in the semi-finals with a narrow win.
'Well boss Alexander made four changes to the side which drew 1-1 with Dundee in the Premiership last week. Mugabi and Nathan McGinley returned at wing-back alongside Dean Cornelius in midfield and Jordan Roberts up front.
Captain Stephen O'Donnell, Sean Goss, Mark O'Hara and Kaiyne Woolery all dropped to the bench.
Hibs welcomed back Matt Macey and Joe Newell while Melkersen made his first start since joining from Bodo/Glimt in attack. Christian Doidge was dropped and Jake Doyle-Hayes also missed out.
Nightmare is understating how badly this game started for Motherwell. Inside a minute, Mugabi flew into a challenge with Doig and was promptly sent off by Collum, but there have been disagreements on whether it was a sending off or not.
A few minutes later and Roberts escaped with a booking as he lunged into a similarly-high tackle on the opposite side of the pitch.
Stand-in Fir Park skipper Liam Kelly made a great save between the sticks to deny Hibs' Drey Wright on 9 minutes but he couldn't stop Melkersen's effort.
Sylvester Jasper wriggled his way past McGinley and Joe Efford to put a cross in for his Norwegian teammate, who finished with aplomb.
Maloney's men dominated the ball as was to be expected after the early incidents and put corner after corner into the Motherwell box. The home side looked stunned.
It could have been so different on a minute earlier on 14 minutes. A corner into the away box was scrambled and both Juhani Ojala and Roberts missed gaping chances for Alexander.
Jasper was having a field day and was unfortunate to see an effort not nestle the net on 20 minutes before Melkersen had another header three minutes later, which was just over.
Eventually the dynamic forward duo had their moment once more as Jasper slipped in his young peer for a finish finish to double the Hibees lead on 34 minutes.
Home fans had gathered at training the day before to roar the team on and send them a Scottish Cup reminder, but the dreams of a first trip to Hampden since 2018 were left in tatters inside 35 minutes.
But a massive lifeline fell their way on 43 minutes. Jordan Roberts' tame shot looked to be going nowhere but it deflected off Efford and into the net via Macey's post.
After a frantic first half, the second period began in more subdued fashion but after his introduction from the bench, O'Donnell was unfortunate not see a 'Well player tap home his cross on 55 minutes.
Chris Mueller had an effort for the Fir Park visitors on 60 minutes in a reminder one more goal for Maloney's side would all but likely end the game, as Liam Donnelly tried his hand from range at the other end.
The game had lulled once more but all it needed was one goal to swing the tie either way. Ricki Lamie's 72nd minute header brought the Steelmen no closer to level terms.
Woolery then blasted an effort high and wide on 82 minutes and that was that as Motherwell's wait for a first piece of silverware since 1991 rumbles into another season.
Motherwell XI: Kelly; Mugabi, Ojala (45, O'Donnell) Solholm, Lamie, McGinley; Cornelius, Donnelly; Efford, Van Veen, Roberts (Woolery, 81).
Subs: Fox, O'Donnell, Carroll, Woolery, Shaw, Slattery, Amaluzor, Grimshaw, Tierney, Goss, Shields.
Booked: Mugabi (red), Roberts, McGinley, Lamie.
Hibs XI: Macey, Cadden, Porteous, Doig (Mueller, 8, Doidge, 74), Wright, Campbell, Newell, Stevenson, Henderson (Allan, 53), Jasper, Melkersen (McGregor, 74).
Subs: Dabrowski, Mitchell, Allan, Delferriere, Doidge, Hauge, McGregor, Scott, O'Connor.
Booked: Jasper, Allan.
Referee: Willie Collum
Attendance: 8126
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