RANGERS 3 ABERDEEN 0 SPFL Premiership Wednesday 15th January 2025 Ibrox Ref: Kevin Clancy Attendance: 45,887
Goals conceded at either end of the game condemned the Dons to defeat at Rangers.
Following the 0-0 draw with Hearts on Sunday, Jimmy Thelin named an unchanged starting XI for the trip to Ibrox. There were changes on the bench tough with new singings Alfie Dorrington and Alexander Jensen replacing Jamie McGrath and Angus MacDonald.
Rangers beat St Johnstone 3-1 at Ibrox on Sunday and they too named the same starting XI.
The hosts were almost in on eight minutes, picking up the ball on halfway and from there getting Igamane in behind the defence within two passes, the Rangers striker dragging his shot across goal and wide. That gave them plenty of encouragement and they began penning Aberdeen into their own final third, Jefte whipping a great ball through the six yard box but thankfully, there were no takers.
It was 1-0 Rangers on 13 minutes, a poor goal from Aberdeen’s perspective. Ross Doohan rolled the ball to Sivert Heltne Nilsen inside the penalty area but the ball slid under his foot, leaving Cerny to collect and set up Diomande. His shot was blocked, but Igamane was on to the rebound to guide the ball in.
A long run forward across 70 yards from Yilmaz allowed him to find Cerny who drifted inside but pulled his shot wide from the edge of the area on 22 minutes.
Aberdeen were nearly on terms out of nothing on 28 minutes, thanks to a moment of imagination from Leighton Clarkson. From just inside the Rangers half, he spotted Kelly off his line and had the Rangers goalkeeper backpedalling furiously to save inside his six-yard area.
Doohan was sharply off his line to make a crucial save two minutes later, Hagi threading the ball to Danilo, but the Aberdeen ‘keeper narrowed the angle and kept the arrears down to just the one goal.
Kevin Nisbet was chasing down a chance in the 33rd minute, Graeme Shinnie curling in an inviting ball over Nsiala, Nisbet rushing in to try to get in front of Kelly, but the ball was inches too far in front of him and the chance was gone.
Kristers Tobers was booked on 37 despite having cleanly won the ball off Hagi in the centre circle.
Doohan was flying to his left to make another big save after 42 minutes, parrying a ferocious Igamane drive from 25 yards to safety. Seconds later, Doohan had to turn a dangerous Jefte effort behind as he tried to squeeze the ball inside the near post.
Nsiala was yellow carded on 44 minutes for chopping Nisbet down some 30 yards from goal. Clarkson’s delivery from the free-kick found the head of Tobers but Kelly was down well to his left to save.
HALF-TIME: RANGERS 1 ABERDEEN 0
Bajrami replaced for Danilo for the home side at the break.
Topi Keskinen was sprinting after a Nisbet through ball three minutes into the half, but Kelly was quickly off his line to smother. Rangers were straight up the other end, Nicky Devlin having to make an important interception to cut out the danger.
Hagi was inches away from doubling the Rangers lead after 57 minutes. From 25 yards out and with no back-lift, his swerving shot flew over Doohan but clipped the top of the bar on its way into the crowd.
Aberdeen made a double change on 64 minutes, Duk and Dorrington coming on for Nisbet and Palaversa. Moments later, a curling ball from Hagi evaded everyone and thankfully drifted just past the far post. Shayden Morris then replaced Keskinen.
James McGarry caused Rangers some problems with a driving run at goal in the 69th minute, his shot at goal blocked by Propper. Both players needed treatment afterwards and McGarry had to make way for Jensen, Dante Polvara coming on for Okkels.
Cerny should have sealed the game on 73 minutes, the Dons losing possession in midfield and from there, an arcing ball crossfield put Cerny in the clear. Fortunately, Doohan was equal to his effort, making an another excellent save. Clarkson was booked in the 75th minute for a foul on Raskin, and Propper was then replaced by Balogun.
A fine run from Jensen illuminated his debut on 77, dancing past a couple of challenges before feeding Duk, who won a corner, which Kelly collected comfortably. Tavernier came on for Hagi two minutes later. Heltne Nilsen was booked in the 83rd minute.
The Dons were living dangerously again in the 85th minute, Cerny’s corner finding Balogun’s head, but his effort on goal thumped against the post and away to safety.
Good pressure from Aberdeen couldn’t quite forge an opening, giving Rangers chance to get away on the break after 88 minutes. Cerny romped forward but he was unable to make it count,
Tobers making a crucial block. Igamane then made way for Dessers in the 89th minute. Rangers kept the pressure on and after Doohan could only palm a Nsiala cross away, Devlin was in position to clear from inside the six yard box.
As Aberdeen pushed bodies forward Rangers did make it 2-0 in the 93rd minute. Tavernier’s corner flew through the box, missing everyone. Nsiala retrieved it and swung the ball to the back post where Balogun got up highest to plant his header into the net.
Jefte went surging down the left on 96, cutting inside and driving a shot at goal, but again, Doohan stood up to the danger to keep the score down. There was no denying Dessers though as he made it 3-0 in the 97th minute. A long ball forward saw Dessers got away from Dorrington as he lost his footing, the Rangers man, cutting inside beyond Tobers and burying his opportunity into the bottom corner as he went one on one with Doohan.
RANGERS: Kelly, Yilmaz, Propper (Balogun 75), Nsiala, Jefte, Diomande, Raskin, Cerny, Danilo (Bajrami 46), Hagi (Tavernier 79), Igamane (Dessers 89). Subs not used: Munn, Barron, Dessers, McCausland, Rice, Lovelace. GOAL: Igamane (13), Balogun (90+3), Dessers (90+7) BOOKED: Nsiala
ABERDEEN: Doohan, Devlin, Tobers, Heltne Nilsen, McGarry (Jensen 71), Shinnie, Palaversa (Dorrington 64), Keskinen (Morris 67), Clarkson, Okkels (Polvara 71), Nisbet (Duk 64). Subs Not Used: Ritchie, Ambrose, Enem, Boyd. BOOKED: Tobers, Clarkson, Heltne Nilsen
