A late Ryan Naderi goal sealed a place in the Premier Sports Cup Final for Rangers as they overcame a stubborn Aberdeen side at the National Stadium.
Derek McInnes now has a chance at claiming his first trophy as Rangers’ manager, with his side edging Aberdeen out with the Dons continuing their dire run of form.
McInnes made the odd change of dropping vice-captain Dan Neil to the bench along with Djeidi Gassama following Rangers’ 2-2 draw at Tynecastle midweek with Badredine Bouanani and Minsu Kim replacing the two.
Aberdeen made four changes to their side who were beaten by Falkirk on Wednesday evening. Chris Cadden was out injured, Dan Happe was serving a suspension and Lewis Smith and Stuart Armstrong took their place on the bench. Replacing them was Connor Ronan, Emmanuel Gyamfi, Jack Milne and Nicky Devlin
Both sides were met with a vibrant atmosphere at the National Stadium with the pyrotechnics in full force before Aberdeen kicked off the first half.
It was looking to be an even affair in the first 10 minutes. The two teams shared spells of possession but no real chances were created from it. Rangers did though have a half chance five minutes in though when Naderi’s shot was fired wide from range.
Early in the game, Aberdeen’s injury crisis went from bad to worse when a strong challenge from the Dons’ Gyamfi on Minsu Kim left the right back in discomfort – he was quickly replaced by Stuart Armstrong.
There were cries for a handball by Aberdeen’s Jack Milne after a header from Rangers’ defender Emmanuel Fernandez deflected off his opponent in the Dons’ penalty box – referee Ryan Lee didn’t entertain the appeals.
Guiness-Walker created the first opening for Aberdeen after intercepting a slack pass from Nico Raskin but his solo effort was parried away by Gers’ keeper Pandur, trickling out for a corner where the ball broke for Afeez, who lashed his effort over the bar.
The first booking of the game came mid-way into the first half after Afeez Aremu’s late challenge on Bouanani following skilful play from the winger.
It was the Ibrox side who started to take control of the game. Bouanani’s low-driven effort forced a save from Muller to keep the score level. Then Minsu Kim found a yard of space in the box where he hit wide in a poor effort at goal from close-range.
A sequence of blocked shots led to the ball falling to Naderi, who sailed his volley high over the bar.
The curtains closed on a low-key first half affair. In short, Rangers dominated possession throughout the first half but struggled to break down a disciplined Aberdeen defence leaving the tie finely poised at 0-0.
Rangers started off the second half probing the Aberdeen defence with another spell in possession created space for Bouanani who drove inside and fired a curling effort goal-ward, whisking past the post.
With Aberdeen failing to create any real chances, Robinson changed his attacking options replacing Mouloua with Ntelo.
And the impact was instant with positive play from Ronan who found Nisbet in behind – the skipper cut the ball back and his strike was hit low into Fernandez’s foot, with keeper Pandur making a comfortable save in the aftermath.
Throughout the second half, Bouanani was at the heart of every Rangers attack. His floating cross found Kelsy whose header glided past the post. Just minutes later, the winger’s fast feet opened another opportunity to take aim at the Aberdeen goal though was stopped in his tracks by the feet of Muller.
In the 65th minute, vice-captain Dan Neil was brought on for Tuur Rommens.
Minutes later, Rangers created two golden opportunities to take the lead in the tie. Penrice’s threatening corner fell at the feet of Raskin whose curling effort was met by the glove of Muller – it an incredible save to keep the score level.
Then immediately after, a loose ball in the Aberdeen box landed at Dan Neil’s feet, but his shot deflected off Nisbet, who had now turned defender keeping the score level.
The Pittodrie men did try and fight back and hit their opponents on the counter a few times. In one transition, Ronan’s intelligent switch of play found the feet of Nisbet, who stuttered on the ball before his shot was heroically blocked by Makhanya, going out for a corner.
Nisbet had another sniff at goal though he leant back too far and sent his effort high and wide. A huge chance for the Dons to take the lead.
With just nine minutes to play, the Aberdeen defence splintered as Rangers found the long-awaited breakthrough in the tie.
From an Aberdeen corner, Kelsy done ever so well to break up the pitch, bringing Bouanani into play where his low cross was cleared to teammate Penrice, whose low-driven delivery into the box was poked in by Ryan Naderi from around five yards out to all but seal a spot in the final for Derek McInnes’ side.
Attempting to claw back a goal, Robinson brought on three attackers in Marshall, Smith and Yogane.
As five minutes of additional time was added on, the Reds spurred their team on in rescuing the tie. The Dons had time for one more opportunity at goal but Lyons’ strike was wide from the edge of the box.
Ryan Lee concluded the semi-final at Hampden as the full-time whistle sounded, confirming Rangers’ place in the Premier Sports Cup Final on Sunday 13th December.
