Hibernian 3 Aberdeen 0 | Sky Sports Cup Semi-final
Meadowbank Stadium | Sun 19 Jan 4PM
Aberdeen’s Sky Sports Cup run came to an end at the semi-final stage, with Hibernian 3-0 victors at Meadowbank.
The Dons were an even match for their Edinburgh counterparts for much of the opening hour and battled until the end after what had been a bruising week already on the road, a couple late goals changing the complexion of what had by and large been a close encounter, even if the Aberdeen goal threat faded in the final quarter.
Scott Booth wrung the changes for the Semi-final clash with Toni Leigh Finnegan, Kerry Beattie, and Emma Ilijoski all coming in to make their Aberdeen debuts. There were also first starts of the season for Annalisa McCann, after Megan Sidey was ruled out with a groin injury, and for Keira Macpherson who came into the backline.
The Dons bench was a strong one, Niamh Noble, Emily Kraft and Nicola Jameison all dropping down and claiming spots amongst the substitutes. Zoe MacLean was recalled from her loan spell at Westdyke to take up reserve goalkeeper duties, and Natasha Bruce dropped out entirely due to a hamstring injury picked up at New Douglas Park on Wednesday. In the other change to the XI, captain Hannah Stewart returned to lead the line with Phoebe Murray dropping to the bench.
Aberdeen started the brightest, and had the first big chance in the 7th minute, Beattie’s inch-perfect cross from the right falling to Stewart in the middle eight yards out, but her effort agonisingly dragged wide of the post.
McCann was called into action for the first time in the 13th minute, making two routine catches in quick succession to ease her into the game.
Beattie was then the one getting on the end of a cross, which came in from Eva Thomson in the 26th minute, but she was on the stretch and she could only knock the ball over the bar.
Hibernian then came straight up the other end, with Adams pushing an effort just past the far post from the right.
A minute later McAlonie went for goal from a similar position and fired her strike straight at McCann, who held on.
On the half hour mark Thomson picked up a loose pass at the back from Hibs and shot from distance, but Schumacher raced back to her goal and recovered. Again Hibs went straight up the other end, first causing a scramble in which an Adams shot was blocked and then getting on the end of a front post cross and shooting wide via Grant.
But Grant got the first goal of the game a minute later, getting on the end of Morrison’s cross at the back post and firing into the roof of the net.
Grant nearly doubled Hibs’ lead in the 44th minute, diverting a cutback from the right towards the bottom left corner, but McCann reacted quickly to save and it was cleared for a corner, which was safely managed by the Dons.
Half time: Hibernian 1-0 Aberdeen
Adams had another big chance shortly after half time, connecting with a cross from the left on the slide, but this she missed the target under pressure from Aimee Black.
In the 58th minute the Hibees came even closer as Hunter’s powerful header rattled the crossbar. It fell back into the middle of the box, but Aberdeen cleared following a brief stramash.
A first chance in of the second half for Aberdeen came in the 72nd minute as substitute Emily Kraft ran onto a long ball over the ball, but Schumacher was in pole position and won possession before clearing.
And Aberdeen were made to pay as Hibernian doubled their lead three minutes later. A ball in from the right was put back across goal by Hunter and finished in the middle by Adams.
Hibernian looked for a third and McGovern went for goal on the right, trying to find the far bottom corner, but McCann produced a smart save.
The third came with a minute left. A low cross from the right was missed by all in the middle but converted at the back post by Grant despite the best efforts of McCann.
There was time for McGovern to poke another effort towards goal, but this time McCann got down well and gathered.
Full time: Hibernian 3-0 Aberdeen
Hibernian: Schumacher, Hunter, Papadopoulos, Grant, McAlonie, Adams, Doran-Barr, Bowie, Morrison, Taylor, Reilly
Substitutes: Clachers, Leishman, Ferguson, McGovern, Tweedie, Notley, Livingstone, Boyle
Aberdeen: McCann, Gover, Stewart (Kraft 65) Ogilvie, McEvoy (Noble 76), Ilijowski, Thomson (Murray 76), Black, Beattie, MacPherson (Innes 65), Finnegan
Substitutes: MacLean, Edwards, Noble, Jameison, Fraser, Innes, Kraft, Murray, Elder
