Rangers remain on course for a clean sweep of the domestic trophies but they were given an almighty fright by Motherwell.

The Tennents Scottish Cup holders had to come back from 2-1 down at half-time to reach the final, having been thoroughly outplayed in the first 45 minutes.

James McFadden, the hottest property in Scottish football, had fired the underdogs ahead after Steven Craig had cancelled out Bert Konterman's early opener.

The game hinged on a three-minute spell in the second-half however in which Michael Mols and then Lorenzo Amoruso were able to find the Well net.

A David Partridge own-goal was confirmation that Alex McLeish's side had survived a very real threat and there was no time left for Well when Derek Adams pulled one back with virtually the last kick of the game.

Those who had predicted a Rangers landslide against the Scottish Premier League's bottom club must have thought their suspicions had been confirmed after just 110 seconds when Konterman fired his side into the lead.

The Dutchman, who was continuing his role as makeshift midfielder, once scored a famous cup semi-final winner against Celtic and today's strike was also a well-struck effort.

Barry Ferguson took the ball past two men from near a corner flag and after Adams had narrowly failed to cut out the pass, Konterman blasted in from the edge of the box.

How could the league's worst side recover from such a blow inflicted by a side seemingly destined for a domestic treble? The answer was with some style as Terry Butcher's youthful side showed no respect for their more illustrious opponents.

The equaliser came in the 15th minute when Lorenzo Amoruso cleared he ball only as far as Martyn Corrigan, who sent teenager David Clarkson away down the right.

The flag stayed down and the 17-year-old was able to square the ball for fellow youngster Craig to convert ahead of two challengers from close range.

Then Well proved that was no fluke with a fine move that saw McFadden provide an even better finish.

Stephen Pearson was twice involved, first finding Craig on the edge of the box and then, after the striker had cut in and sent a probing ball forward, he arrived in the danger zone to get a touch before Amoruso could intervene.

It was perfect for McFadden, who curled the ball over goalkeeper Stefan Klos with the German being given no chance.

Clarkson should have made it 3-1 before the break when Amoruso fell over instead of clearing his lines, allowing Craig to find the teenager unmarked at the far post. The goal was at his mercy but he scuffed his volley well wide.

Michael Mols almost made Well pay for that miss when he motored away from Tony Vaughan with the ball under his control. The Dutchman took the ball past goalkeeper Francois Dubordeau but lost his footing just as he was beginning to shoot and the ball ended up hitting the side-netting.

It had been a superb first-half performance by the underdogs, although it was marred by a couple of unseemly incidents.

The first saw Vaughan and Mols square up following a foul by the defender and while referee Mike McCurry was having words with the duo a brawl erupted nearby, which saw Craig Moore and Adams booked as well as the original offenders.

Vaughan's temper did not cool down however and after he had narrowly escaped giving away a penalty for pulling Shota Arveladze back he could clearly be seen screaming in the Georgian's face.

It was no surprise that Arveladze was taken off at the break, with Steven Thompson coming on, and within four minutes of the restart Ferguson had seen a shot from the edge of the box bounce off the crossbar.

Pearson failed to hit the target with a free header before the game was turned on its head once more.

Thompson was the architect of Mols' equaliser by first making sure he was not caught in the offside trap and then sending the Dutchman in on goal with an equally well-timed pass.

Three minutes later Amoruso rose unchallenged to meet a Fernando Ricksen free-kick from the left touchline, after Corrigan had fouled Neil McCann, and Rangers were ahead once more.

It had been poor defending to allow the Italian a free header and that moment ended up costing Well the result their earlier performance had deserved.

The die was cast now and defeat was confirmed in the 72nd minute when Partridge headed past his own goalkeeper after Kevin Muscat had crossed from the right.

The final few minutes saw McFadden booked for furious dissent when McCurry refused him a penalty. Muscat had stuck out a leg but there appeared to have been little contact.

Pearson was lucky to stay on the pitch when he went in two-footed on Amoruso but he escaped with just a yellow card.

Adams pulled a goal back with almost the last kick of the game after substitute Richard Offiong had seen a shot deflected into his team-mate's path.

The result also means that the winners of Sunday's semi-final between Dundee and Inverness are assured of a place in the UEFA Cup next season as Rangers are certain to be in the draw for the Champions League qualifiers.

Teams

Rangers: Klos, Muscat, Moore (Malcolm 76), Amoruso, Numan, Ricksen (Hughes 79), Konterman, Ferguson, Arveladze (Thompson 45), Mols, McCann.

Subs Not Used: McGregor, McLean.

Booked: Moore, Mols.

Goals: Konterman 2, Mols 56, Amoruso 60, Partridge 73 og.

Motherwell: Dubourdeau, Corrigan, Vaughan, Partridge, Hammell (Cowan 75), Adams, Leitch (Lehmann 86), Pearson, McFadden, Clarkson, Craig (Offiong 68).

Subs Not Used: Woods, Lasley.

Booked: Vaughan, Adams, McFadden, Pearson, Offiong.

Goals: Craig 15, McFadden 27, Adams 90.

Att: 29,352

Ref: M McCurry (Scotland).