Motherwell vs Falkirk; Scottish Premiership
Motherwell vs Falkirk. Scottish Premiership.
Fir ParkAttendance7,473.
Motherwell 1-2 Falkirk: Scott Arfield strike sees Bairns earn comeback victory at Fir Park
Report as Falkirk win 2-1 at Motherwell; Tawanda Maswanhise opened the scoring for the Steelmen after Ibrahim Said's strike was ruled out; Calvin Miller equaliser; Scott Arfield scored a late winner for the Bairns
Saturday 18 October 2025 21:01, UK
Scott Arfield capped a remarkable turnaround in fortunes for Falkirk as his late goal snatched a 2-1 victory at Motherwell.
Well were dominant in the first half and were worth more than the 1-0 half-time advantage granted by Tawanda Maswanhise's strike.
However, they were unable to make that lead count and Falkirk were level 12 minutes into the second half thanks to Calvin Miller's first Premiership goal for the club, before Arfield pounced in the 79th minute to lift the Bairns above their opponents in the table.
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Motherwell were lively from the whistle and were denied a superb opening goal after 17 minutes by VAR, with Ibrahim Said penalised for a foul before his dazzling run and shot into the roof of the net.
The Nigerian's head did not drop, however, and five minutes later he teed up Maswanhise for the opener.
Said's speed and skill was too much for Falkirk as he menaced in from the left to pick out his team-mate on the edge of the area. Maswanhise jinked to the outside to wrong-foot Falkirk defender Sam Hart before steering a stunning finish inside the far post.
The visitors broke out a couple of times to threaten but a Dylan Tait header and Kyrell Wilson shot failed to trouble Calum Ward in the home goal.
Keelan Adams, Miller and Hart were all then cautioned as the visitors struggled to contain Motherwell's movement, and the hosts almost added to their lead two minutes before the interval when Said scampered up the left to set up Elijah Just, whose first-time effort bounded inches wide of Scott Bain's left-hand post.
Motherwell, who had let a three-goal lead slip at Hearts, were served another reminder of their defensive fragility when a last-ditch Manny Longelo tackle prevented Wilson from scoring three minutes after the break.
However, the visitors levelled in the 57th minute as Ethan Williams picked out Ross MacIver from deep and he laid off for the unmarked Miller to slip a cool finish under Ward.
A team transformed, Falkirk were then almost instantly in front.
MacIver was in acres of space as he collected from Brad Spencer but Ward sprang out smartly to save.
A flurry of changes from either side helped make the remainder an end-to-end affair, and it was Falkirk's switches that paid off.
Alfredo Agyeman whipped over a cross from the right which was only cleared as far as fellow substitute Arfield, who composed himself to crack a right-foot finish into the bottom corner.
Said disallowed goal a 'shocking decision'
Motherwell boss Jens Berthel Askou:
We scored two beautiful goals in the first half and, for reasons I will never understand, one of them was disallowed.
"It's absolutely shocking and, at 2-0, we would have had so much momentum.
"Ibby gets his body in front of the Falkirk player and shields the ball. If anything, he is the one being fouled. Because Ibby is strong as an ox, he continues and scores a beautiful goal.
"For the Falkirk winner, I didn't even bother asking the fourth official if they were going to look at it.
"I was 100 per cent certain they would. Because when you pull a central defender back so that he's off balance when he heads the ball, of course it's a foul.
"I was absolutely shocked that they gave that goal."
'I almost didn't bring on Arfield'
Falkirk boss Paul McGinn:
"There is an area on the pitch where, if Scott gets the ball, he is lethal.
"He is probably the best in Scotland when the ball lands there.
"Scotty always hits the target and at least forces a save from the goalkeeper, and that is why we put him on.
"There was a debate - do we put on A or B? We went with Scotty because he was more likely to get a goal. And he produced the goods and played a big part in getting us three points.
"He is so valuable for us every day and he never mumps and moans about not starting games.
"Scotty is a top professional. He came here to get us promoted and he did that. Now he is still making a contribution for us in the Premiership."
