Alba Cup penalty joy

Dani Sanchez scored early but former ICT target Liam Buchanan scored late to take this tie to extra-time and then penalties.

Caley Thistle went through 4-3 on  penalties and a semi-final berth was achieved.

The Highlanders drew first blood in six minutes when Danni Sanchez found the corner of the net with a shot from 12 yards.

Partick almost levelled three minutes later when Liam Buchanan set up Paul Cairney with a clever pass inside the box but the midfielder's shot was blocked by keeper Ryan Esson.

Richie Foran then wasted a good chance at the other end when he blasted over the bar from 10 yards.

Butcher's side were looking dangerous and came close to extending their lead when Sanchez got on the end of a Foran pass but his shot from close in was stopped on the line by keeper Craig Hinchcliffe.

There was more urgency about Partick after the break with Simon Donnelly, Buchanan and Cairney all having chances to level.

And in 77 minutes the Glasgow side finally found the equaliser when the ball fell nicely to Buchanan in the box and the striker gave Esson no chance with a well-hit shot from six yards.

Ian McCall's side were now dominating but couldn't come up with a winning goal and the match went into extra time before heading into a nail-biting penalty shootout.

Ryan Esson saved three shoot-out penalties as Inverness squeezed into the Alba Challenge Cup semi-finals.

The visitors went ahead with the game's first attack when a smart 18-yard Danni Sanchez strike flew in.

Partick levelled when Caley failed to clear Paul Paton's corner and Liam Buchanan pounced to stab home Paul Cairney's pass on 77 minutes.

Penalties followed extra time and Grant Munro held his nerve to slot away the decisive spot-kick.