Top Ten League Cup Moments |

The RedMatchday Magazine team picked their favourite top ten AFC League Cup moments:

10 Andy Dow v Rangers 1999
With Aberdeen rooted at the foot of the league and destined for s relegation scrap, the odds were stacked against them doing anything against big spending Rangers in the quarter final tie at Pittodrie. Aberdeen had barely scored a single goal in their opening 10 matches but when Andy Dow popped up with a sensational winner it sent the Pittodrie crowd home happy as Aberdeen made their way to the final once more.      

9 Eoin Jess ‘Keepy-Up’ v Rangers 1995
Eoin Jess was one of the most exciting players to grace Pittodrie in an era when the Dons were struggling to reach previous highs. It was after a traumatic spell at the end of the 1994.95 season that Aberdeen came back with a vengeance with rangers in their sights. With Aberdeen coasting to a semi final win over Rangers at Hampden it was Jess whose instinctive ‘keep-up’ with the ball in the Rangers half sent the Red Army wild with delight as Jess showed real class to ensure Aberdeen progressed in style.

8 Double Wins Over Glasgow Pair 1979
On their way to the 1979 final Aberdeen did it the hard way. In the days of two-leg ties, Aberdeen defeated Rangers 3-1 at Pittodrie before inflicting a further 2-0 success in the Ibrox return. Celtic were beaten 3-2 at Pittodrie with a Steve Archibald hat trick and the Dons went on to win 1-0 at Parkhead in the return tie.

7 Aberdeen 5:1 Rangers Semi Final 1977
Ally MacLeod brought a new enthusiasm to the club that had been struggling in the early days of the new Premier League. Rangers were firm favourites at Hampden but the Dons cut loose and inflicted a humiliating defeat on the Ibrox side as a hat trick from Jocky Scott and goals from Joe Harper and Drew Jarvie sent Aberdeen through to the final.

6 2014 Final v Inverness
Certainly not a classic but a pivotal moment in Aberdeen FC history as they ended their trophy drought. The final will be remembered for the dramatic penalty shootout, Adam Rooney’s winning spot-kick and the incredible 43,000 Aberdeen support that filled Celtic Park and turned the Glasgow ground into a sea of red. The traditional welcome home and the open top bus journey down Union Street the following week awakened a generation of Aberdeen followers as success returned to Aberdeen.

5 1995 League Cup Final
After almost being relegated some months earlier it was Aberdeen that came back in style to lift the cup after a 2-0 win over Dundee at Hampden. The Dons dominated the game with Stephen Glass being named as man of the match after goals from Billy Dodds and Duncan Shearer took the cup north before an Aberdeen support in excess of 25,000.

4 1989 Final v Rangers
After losing both the 1987 and 1988 League Cup Finals to Rangers in what was two classic encounters, Aberdeen finished off their decade in style by winning 2-1 against their bitter rivals. Despite being hauled back by a soft penalty decision Aberdeen went on to lift the cup with two Paul Mason goals in a dramatic final. It was Willie Miller’s last cup success, back where he started in 1976.

3 1955 Semi Final v Rangers
Rangers went into this one still smarting from a 6-0 hammering by Aberdeen in the 1954 Scottish Cup semi final that destroyed the myth of the famed Ibrox ‘Iron Curtain’ defence. Aberdeen had a lot to live up to as champions and they did not disappoint in a 2-1 win that was reward for their domination throughout. Aberdeen went on to beat St Mirren in the final.

2 1985 League Cup Final
Known as the ’12 minute Final’ as that was all it took for Aberdeen to cruise into a two-goal lead against Hibernian in the Hampden final. An imperious Aberdeen were almost unbeatable back then as they dominated the domestic game. It was a first League Cup success for Alex Ferguson and the 3-0 win was as easy a final as Aberdeen had ever enjoyed.

1 1976 League Cup Final
A 21 year wait to win the League Cup ended in sensational style in the Hampden rain in November 1976. Supersub Davie Robb came on for the Dons as the game entered an extra time period against Celtic. With the game tied at 1-1 big Davie was on hand to slide the ball past Peter Latchford to give Aberdeen a lead they held on to with all that they had. It was a first cup success for captain Willie Miller as manager Ally MacLeod kept his promise to win a major trophy at Pittodrie in his first full season at the club.