ABERDEEN 0 MOTHERWELL 1 Saturday 20 September 2025 Premier Sports Cup Quarter-Final Pittodrie Attendance: 11,533 Referee: John Beaton
Aberdeen drew a blank for a third straight game, hitting the woodwork twice as they slipped to defeat in the Premier Sports Cup, defeated by the only goal at Pittodrie.
There was one change from the Aberdeen side that drew 0-0 with Livingston last week, Stuart Armstrong coming in for Sivert Heltne Nilsen, who was on the bench. Nicky Devlin was among the subs, available after his suspension, with Nicolas Milanovic joining him. Gavin Molloy and Kenan Bilalovic missed out.
Motherwell drew 1-1 at Dens Park last Saturday, and they also made just the one change, Stephen O’Donnell replacing Johnny Koutroumbis.
It was the visitors who made the brighter start, winning two early corners in quick succession that come to nothing. A good tackle from Graeme Shinnie on six minutes allowed him to find Adil Aouichiche, then it was on to Jesper Karlsson. His cross to the back post was just too strong for Kevin Nisbet, but it was a promising move for the Dons. A quick counter-attack three minutes later saw Aouchiche pull a shot wide from 25 yards out.
Alfie Dorrington set Aberdeen on their way in the 19th minute with a glorious diagonal pass forward over 60 yards, initially into the feet of Karlsson. He exchanged passes with Shinnie but Nisbet couldn’t get enough on Karlsson’s cross that reached him at an awkward height, and his header glanced wide.
Four minutes later a pass over the top found Karlsson but the angle was difficult and he could only put his shot into the side netting as the Dons began to ask more questions.
Maswasinhe came closest to a goal thus far on 28 minutes, getting free at the back post, but his shot thumped off the post, Said putting the rebound into the crowd.
Aouchiche kept things level in the 31st minute, producing a magnificent acrobatic clearance off the line as Stamatelopoulos headed at goal from a Motherwell corner.
The Dons steadied from there and began probing forward again. They almost had the lead on 38, Aouchiche’s low free-kick squirming its way through to Mats Knoester, but from six yards out, his shot smashed into the crossbar and bounced back into the hands of Ward.
Dimitar Mitov produced a superb save after 42 minutes, the Steelmen producing a slick counter-attack that culminated in Charles-Cook being played clean through a dozen yards out. He got plenty on his low shot, but Mitov spread himself in front of the attacker to make a vital block.
On the verge of half-time, Shinnie was the first man to be carded for a clip on Charles-Cook, who himself might have been in the book before then for a couple of poor tackles.
HALF-TIME: ABERDEEN 0 MOTHERWELL 0
After a sedate start, the second half came to life in the 51st minute, as Longelo shimmied into space down the ‘Well left, his cross dipping just wide of the far post. Said was booked for dissent five minutes later.
Longelo floated another dangerous effort through the box on 58 minutes, Stamatelopoulos unable to get a touch. Ante Palaversa, Leighton Clarkson and Nicky Devlin were Aberdeen’s first changes for Shinnie, Armstrong and Gyamfi on the hour, Devlin taking the captaincy. Within a minute, Devlin and Clarkson had created an opportunity for Palaversa, his drive from 20 yards spinning wide. Nisbet was booked on 62 for delaying a Motherwell free-kick.
Motherwell were in front seconds later, coming forward from the free-kick and finding Charles-Cook, who cut across his shot from 20 yards, the ball flashing across goal and thumping in off the far post.
Fadinger was booked for a foul on Alexander Jensen after 72 minutes, and the Dons went to the bench again a moment later, Dante Polvara and Marko Lazetic replacing Aouchiche and Topi Keskinen. The Steelmen made a double change four minutes later with Charles-Cook and Fadinger replaced by Priestman and Osong.
Stamatelopoulos should have sealed the win for Motherwell in the 85th minute, Maswanhise’s curling cross finding the striker with a free header, but he put it wide of goal from eight yards out.
The Dons were inches away from an equaliser in the 88th minute, Karlsson’s near post corner met perfectly by Devlin, his glancing header beating the defence but not the crossbar, the woodwork denying Aberdeen again.
Welsh and Said were replaced by Koutroumbis and Balmer in the final minute of normal time.
Aberdeen kept pressing, a great ball from Polvara but his first time cross was too high for Lazetic in the first of four added minutes, another nearly moment for the Dons.
Aberdeen put together another attacking break on 93, culminating in Polvara slashing his drive over the bar from the edge of the box, the final act of another frustrating afternoon at Pittodrie.
ABERDEEN: Mitov, Jensen, Knoester, Dorrington, Gyamfi (Devlin 60), Shinnie (Palaversa 60), Armstrong (Clarkson 60), Karlsson, Aouchiche (Polvara 73), Keskinen (Lazetic 73), Nisbet.
Subs not used: Suman, Heltne Nilsen, Milanovic, Milne.
BOOKED: Shinnie, Nisbet.
MOTHERWELL: Ward, O’Donnell, Gordon, Welsh (Balmer 89), Longelo, Fadinger (Priestman 76), Watt, Maswanhise, Said (Koutroumbis 89), Charles-Cook (Osong 76), Stamatelopoulos.
Subs not used: Oxborough, Halliday, Ross, McAllister, McColm.
GOAL: Charles-Cook (63)
BOOKED: Said, Fadinger
