RANGERS 1-0 ABERDEEN Premier Sports Cup | Semi-Final Saturday October 31 2026 Hampden Park Ref: Ryan Lee Attendance: 43,567
A dogged, determined effort from Aberdeen wasn’t quite enough as they were beaten by a late Rangers goal at Hampden.
There were four changes to the Aberdeen side beaten by Falkirk on Wednesday. Dan Happe was out suspended, Chris Cadden injured, Stuart Armstrong and Lewis Smith on the bench. In came Nicky Devlin, Connor Ronan, Emmanuel Gyamfi and Jack Milne. Mitchel Frame and Tony Yogane were on the bench, in place of the suspended Toyosi Olusanya and Kristers Tobers.
Rangers drew 2-2 at Hearts on Wednesday evening, and they made two changes, Neil and Gassama replaced by Rommens and Bouanani.
Rangers dominated the early possession, but the Dons kept a good shape to combat them. The first real danger came in the 10th minute, Devlin having to produce a diving header to cut out a dangerous cross into the box. Kelsy headed harmlessly wide from a Penrice corner a couple of minutes later.
On 13, Rangers were away down their left, Gyamfi pulling up with an injury as he chased Minsu. Stuart Armstrong quickly replaced a distraught Gyamfi, Brad Lyons going to wing-back. Afeez Aremu took Penrice’s dangerously high boot in the ribcage five minutes later, but the Rangers man somehow escaped a booking.
After 22 minutes, a good interception from Nesta Guinness-Walker on halfway saw him sprint forward to the edge of the area before producing a shot that was heading for the bottom corner, Pandur tipping it behind, stretching low to his left. From the corner, the ball sat up nicely for Aremu on the edge of the box, but he shot wide of the target. Fernandez went down injured in the aftermath, but he continued after treatment.
More pressure from Aberdeen on 34, Guinness-Walker prominent again. His cross was just above Kevin Nisbet, but Lyons then turned it back in, the captain getting a glancing header on it, the ball drifting wide of the post.
Aremu was booked on 37, just fractionally late on Bouanani. Sterling followed him in four minutes later for a desperate hack on Guinness-Walker, who was giving the Rangers man a torrid time.
Marius Muller was called into action for the first time in the 44th minute, a straightforward save low down to his right. Moments later, a cross from deep on the Rangers left reached Naderi ten yards out, but he put his header onto the roof of the net.
HALF-TIME: RANGERS 0 ABERDEEN 0
A Rangers attack in the opening minute of the second half came to nothing other than Penrice calling for the physio after running into Devlin.
Rangers came close on 55, Bouanani swiping a shot through the box but just wide of the post. Following that, Mitchy Ntelo replaced Mouloua.
A good interchange between Ronan and Ntelo set Nisbet on the charge on the hour, but his shot took a deflection which made it a comfortable save for Pandur. Rangers were quickly up the other end, Muller saving from Minsu’s 20 yarder. From the resulting corner, Kelsy had the goal at his mercy from six yards out, but headed wide of the target.
Good feet by Bouanani gave him a shooting chance on 64 but Devlin and Muller were there to block at the near post. Rangers made a double change after 65 minutes, Neil and Gassama on for Rommens and Minsu.
Muller had to parry a Raskin shot on 67 as Rangers tried to turn the wick up, Milne blocking a Neil shot over the bar. Bouanani was the danger again on 73, dancing inside from the Rangers right, past a couple of challenges, before bending a shot wide of the far post.
After being under the cosh, Aberdeen gradually turned the tide and had a golden opportunity on the break on 75. A great pass from Ronan found Nisbet. He looked for a pass inside to Ntelo that didn’t find him, Armstrong gathering in the ball and feeding it back to Nisbet. His low shot deflected off Makhanya and went wide.
From the corner, the ball dropped invitingly for Nisbet eight yards out, but he swiped a first time shot over the bar. Two minutes later, chasing a long ball, Nisbet volleyed over the bar from 20 yards.
On 83, Rangers broke clear from an Aberdeen corner and they had the lead. A miscued shot from Penrice flew through the box and turned into a perfect pass for Naderi, who slotted in from six yards out. Devlin was booked on 86 after winning the ball from Naderi.
In the 88th minute, Smith, Findlay Marshall and Tony Yogane came on for Aremu, Devlin and Ronan. Rangers brought on Curtis, Godfrey and Chukwuani for Bouanani, Fernandez and Kelsy.
Armstrong was inches away from an equaliser in the 92nd minute, the ball breaking to him on the edge of the box from a Guinness-Walker long throw. His curling shot arced through the area but just past the post.
ABERDEEN: Muller, Gyamfi (Armstrong 15), Devlin (Smith 88), Molloy, Milne, Guinness-Walker, Lyons, Aremu (Yogane 88), Ronan (Marshall 88), Mouloua (Ntelo 56), Nisbet.
Subs not used: Klein, Frame, Mahou, Briedl.
Booked: Aremu, Devlin.
RANGERS: Pandur, Sterling, Fernandez (Godfrey 88), Makhanya, Penrice, Rommens (Minsu 65), Raskin, Minsu (Gassama 65), Naderi, Bouanani (Curtis 88), Kelsy (Chukwuani 88).
Subs not used: Kelly, Nedeljkovic, Dragojevic, Miovski.
Goal: Naderi (83).
Booked: Sterling.
