Aberdeen 3 - Motherwell 1 Despite a spirited second half performance from Motherwell, Aberdeen ran out comfortable 3-1 victors and now look forward to a home quarter final tie against Hearts next Tuesday.
Dons boss Ebbe Skovdahl sprang a surprise after Sunday's humiliating defeat at the hands of Celtic by relegating club captain Darren Young to the bench.
In a more attacking line up Leon Mike was recalled to the Dons strike force which has failed to score since their last meeting with the visitors on the 5th October.
Terry Butcher was looking for an extended cup run as a welcome distraction from league business, which has seen Motherwell plummet to the bottom of the league since their excellent victory over Celtic.
However their cause wasn't helped by the absence of star man James McFadden who missed the trip North due to a thigh strain.
Motherwell were first to create an opening on eight minutes when good interplay between Pearson and Leitch saw the latters through ball take Hammell beyond the Dons defence. His fierce cross could only be carried by Kjaer into the path of Kemas who, from ten yards, somehow screwed his effort wide of target.
The Dons took the lead on 22 minutes when Leon Mike moved onto a neat through ball from Derek Young to prod the ball through the legs of the advancing Woods and into the net.
Motherwell's woes continued minutes later when Derek Young accepted a short free kick from Deloumeaux to fire home from 25 yards, beating the unsighted Woods low down to his right.
Indecision between McGuire and Bisconti allowed Lehmann a shot at goal which only just cleared the cross bar.
Motherwell reduced the deficit in spectacular fashion on 42 minutes when following a needless foul by Bisconti on Pearson, Adams' brilliant free kick crashed home from 25 yards off the underside of the crossbar.
The drama continued in the following minutes when Michie raced clear of a very square Well defence to round keeper Woods and score his first senior goal.
Adams came close to reducing the score line on 60 minutes when from Leitch's long diagonal ball his downward header tested Kjaer from eight yards.
Partridge should have done better when he had time and space to meet Hammell's cross ball but from a good position he failed to get his header on target. As the game moved into the final minutes only a brilliant stop by Woods denied McGuire, whose volley he pushed around the post