HIBERNIAN 3 ABERDEEN 3

SPFL Premiership

Tuesday 26th November 2024

Easter Road

Ref: Calum Scott

Attendance: 15,845

Three goals in added time at Easter Road saw the Dons twice pegged back, having twice looked set to take all three points from Hibs. 

After defeat to St Mirren at the weekend, Jimmy Thelin made three changes to the starting XI with Duk – making his 100th appearance for the Dons – Kevin Nisbet and Topi Keskinen coming in for Leighton Clarkson, Ester Sokler and Shayden Morris, who all started from the bench. Peter Ambrose replaced Dante Polvara among the subs.

Hibs were beaten 4-1 at Dens Park on Saturday and made four changes to their side, Jordan Smith, Lewis Miller, Jack Iredale and Junior Hoilett replacing Josef Bursik, Chris Cadden, Josh Campbell and Jordan Obita.

As seems inevitable at present, the game began in pouring rain, the first real action coming after seven minutes as Gavin Molloy needed treatment after falling awkwardly when challenging for a header on halfway. He was soon fit to continue.

An equally awkward pass back from Slobodan Rubezic caused Dimitar Mitov a few uneasy moments before he was able to clear acrobatically as neither side could settle into much rhythm early on.

Good interplay between Duk and Jack MacKenzie opened Hibs up on 12 minutes, the left-back picking out Jamie McGrath with a precise low cross, his shot well blocked by Bushiri. Hibs responded a minute later, Youan showing neat footwork to create space for a shot 25 yards out, Mitov having to throw himself to his right to push the ball away.

There was a virtual carbon copy of Aberdeen’s 12th minute chance after 25, MacKenzie cutting the ball back into McGrath on the corner of the six-yard box but again, his drive across goal cannoned into Bushiri and away.

The Hibs physios were called on after 34 minutes when Miller injured himself in making a diving clearance, but like Molloy earlier, he was able to carry on after treatment.

The home side grabbed the lead on 40 minutes courtesy of a heavy deflection on a shot from distance from Newell. The Hibs skipper pounced on a loose clearance 25 yards out and his shot thumped off Nicky Devlin and curled away from Mitov who was left with no chance by the deflection.

It could have been worse for Aberdeen four minutes later, Hoilett flighting in a corner to around the penalty spot, Kukharevych getting up well to guide his header back the way it had come, but fortunately it drifted just past the post. The Hibs forward then needed the ministrations of the physios before he could continue.

Miller was booked as the half went into added time, his trailing leg catching MacKenzie in the head as the Aberdeen man made a sliding tackle. Hibs boss David Gray was also carded for his protests.

MacKenzie was down the left again in the fourth minute of added time and his cross found Nisbet at the near post, but he didn’t get enough on his header and it was an easy save for Smith.

HALF-TIME: HIBERNIAN 1 ABERDEEN 0

The Dons replaced Nisbet with Clarkson at the interval, but they very nearly went 2-0 down within 30 seconds of the restart, a string of errors first letting Hibs in down their right and then, after failing to clear their lines, Newell came onto the ball on the edge of the box but shaped his shot against the outside of the post.

Bushiri came off worst on 49 minutes when he defended a fierce Duk cross with an area of the body not best suited to taking such a pounding. The Dons could do nothing with the corner.

Two minutes later, a driving run from Devlin threatened to open Hibs up courtesy of a one-two with Clarkson, but as he played the ball back to McGrath, the midfielder could only shovel his shot over the bar.

Morris was introduced after 54 minutes, Keskinen making way. Thirty seconds later the Dons were on level terms. Morris accelerated onto a pass away down the right and fired a cross into Duk at the near post. His instinctive backheel towards goal was blocked but Hibs could only clear as far as McGrath eight yards out, and he smashed the ball beyond Smith for 1-1.

Hibs responded and on the hour Devlin had to make a crucial block from Youan at the near post to keep the scores level. Back up the other end and a low Shinnie drive was saved, not altogether convincingly by Smith as the game belatedly came to life. O’Hora hooked the ball just over on 64 from a corner, Hibs then immediately replacing Kukharevych with Gayle.

Bushiri very nearly put Aberdeen in the lead on 66, stretching to cut out a Morris cross after Duk had set him away, the Hibs defender almost putting the ball beyond his goalkeeper who eventually made a scrambling stop.

Devlin was fouled on the edge of the area after 70 minutes. Iredale said something to him, Devlin stood up to remonstrate and Iredale immediately hurled himself to the turf clutching his face. Both men were booked. There were more changes for Hibs on 75, Kwon and Campbell replacing Hoilett and Triantis.

Aberdeen had their noses in front on 76, capitalising on a goalkeeping error from a Shinnie corner. Smith flapping at the cross, his punch dropping towards Devlin who manufactured a really clever finish to loop the ball back over him and into the empty net.

Hibs weren’t finished though and on 79, Cadden was inches away from levelling it up again, coming in at the back post to get on the end of a deep cross that had eluded everybody, his poked shot thumping the post and bouncing away to safety. Sokler came on for Duk after 80 minutes.

Devlin went down needing treatment after stretching to make a clearance in the 82nd minute and the Dons made a quick change, bringing on Jack Milne. Boyle was thrown on for Iredale by Hibs a minute later.

Hibs were still fighting and they were level on 92 minutes. A soft free-kick was given away 25 yards out and up stepped Cadden to put the ball over the wall and into the top corner, giving Mitov no chance.

But Aberdeen weren’t finished either and Sokler produced a goal in the 94th minute that was even better than Cadden’s. Morris was the instigator again, skinning the defender and getting to the by-line before standing the cross up for Sokler, back to goal on the penalty spot. A brilliant overhead kick was too much for Smith to handle, the goalkeeper only getting a hand on it as it flew into the roof of the net.

But there was still more to come. Bushiri was thrown up front as Hibs chased the ball forward again, Youan’s cross finding Gaye who headed the ball back across goal and there was Bushiri at the back post to bundle the ball past Mitov from close range in the 95th minute to level the game up.

HIBERNIAN: Smith, Miller, O’Hora, Bushiri, Iredale (Boyle 84), Newell, Triantis (Kwon 75), N. Cadden, Hoilett (Campbell 75), Youan, Kukharevych (Gayle 65).

Subs not used: Bursik, Molotnikov, Doyle-Hayes, Levitt, C. Cadden.

GOALS: Newell (40), N. Cadden (90+2), Bushiri (90+5)

BOOKED: Miller, Iredale

ABERDEEN: Mitov, Devlin (Milne 83), Molloy, Rubezic, MacKenzie, Shinnie, Heltne Nilsen, Keskinen (Morris 54), McGrath, Duk (Sokler 80), Nisbet (Clarkson 46).

Subs not used: Doohan, Ambrose, Palaversa, Besuijen, McGarry.

GOALS: McGrath (55), Devlin (76), Sokler (90+4)

BOOKED: Devlin