Aberdeen U18s 4 Dundee FC U18s 1 Cormack Park Scottish Youth FA Cup Friday 16 January 2026
Summary:
Aberdeen U18’s were back in Scottish Youth Cup action on Friday night as they took on Dundee FC U18s in the quarter-final. The Young Dons booked their place in the last eight with convincing victories over Dunbar and Montrose, and were aiming to continue that momentum against a Dundee side who reached last season’s final.
The Young Dons booked their place in the Scottish Youth Cup semi final as they toppled Dundee FC with a fighting second half display. Going into halftime 0-1 down, Aberdeen came flying out the blocks in the second period completing the turnaround just nine minutes after the break. Late goals from Searle and Stephen all but ensured the Don’s progression into the next round.
Report:
The opening exchanges saw both sides move the ball well as they looked to establish a foothold in possession.
Aberdeen carved out the first chance of the evening when Lewis Carrol’s switch of play picked out Jack Searle racing down the left. The winger skipped beyond his marker before flashing a dangerous cross across the face of goal, which just evaded Joseph Teasdale arriving in the middle.
Dundee responded on ten minutes as Oosenburgh delivered a deep cross into the box, with Perrie rising to meet it but heading narrowly wide.
The Young Dons continued to threaten, with Oliver Green’s clever clipped pass catching out the Dundee backline and perfectly matching Teasdale’s curved run. The forward cut across Adam Anderson before firing a left-footed effort towards the bottom corner, forcing Lyall into a smart save to his right.
As the half wore on, Dundee began to bypass the midfield, opting to play early balls in behind the Aberdeen defence. That approach paid dividends on the half-hour mark as they broke the deadlock through a direct move. Lyall’s long clearance was flicked on by Rooney and fell kindly to Perrie, who finished into the top-right corner.
Aberdeen looked for an immediate response and went close straight from the restart. Sam McLean’s delivery was miscontrolled by Johnstone, allowing Teasdale a sight of goal, but the striker rather uncharacteristically fired his effort over the bar from close range.
Dundee nearly doubled their advantage soon after, with Oosenburgh again the provider, firing a low cross across the six-yard box that just past his onrushing teammates.
The half closed with Aberdeen enjoying spells of possession in the Dundee half, but clear-cut chances proved hard to come by.
Half Time: Aberdeen U18s 0-1 Dundee FC U18’s
Neither side made any changes at the break as the visitors got the second half underway.
Aberdeen found their equaliser early in the half with a well-worked move. McLean brought a long switch under control in his stride before cutting the ball back to Zak To, who slid a perfectly weighted pass across the edge of the box for Cooper Masson. The midfielder met it first time, curling a fine finish into the bottom-left corner to level the tie in the 51st minute.
Just two minutes later, the young Dons were handed the chance to take the lead. An Aberdeen corner was only partially cleared, falling to To, who brought the ball under control before being bundled over by Ethan Crombie inside the area.
Dylan Ross stepped up and, with a composed run-up, smashed home his sides crucial second goal. Lyall got a fingertip to it but the penalty proved to powerful as flew past his left, completing a quick turnaround on 54 minutes.
From that point on, it was all Aberdeen. The side raised their intensity levels , pressing high and playing with real purpose.
Capitalising on their high spell, Aberdeen scored again, this time from an excellent passage of play. McLean’s first-time flick round the corner released Teasdale in behind the Dundee defence, and the striker showed great awareness to square for the supporting run of Jack Searle, who had the simple task of finishing from close range to extend the lead just past the hour mark.
Dundee threatened briefly through Leo Howett, who cut inside onto his left foot before driving an effort towards Simpson’s near post, but the Aberdeen goalkeeper was equal to it.
Aberdeen continued to create chances, with Masson influential. He found space down the left and delivered a teasing cross that substitute Tristan Stephen met first time, his effort drifting just wide on 75 minutes.
The visitors struggled to create openings in the second half, and whenever they pushed forward, Aberdeen looked dangerous on the break, with Searle, Teasdale and substitute Andrew Fasanya providing constant outlets in behind.
The Young Dons wrapped up the victory in added time as Stephen snuck in at the near post to turn home Max Pocklington’s cut-back, capping off an impressive second-half performance to see themselves into the Scottish Youth Cup Semi-final.
Full Time: Aberdeen U18s 4-1 DundeeFC U18’s
STATS:
Aberdeen:
Simpson; Green, Ross, Carroll (C), Masson (Duncan 82’), McLean(Stephen 73’), Teasdale (Fasanya 78’), To, Cummings (Pocklington 73’), Searle, McDonnell (Henderson 82’)
Unused subs: Ibrahim (GK), Chikomo
Goals: Masson 51’, Ross 54’, Searle 61’, Stephen 92’
Bookings: Duncan 85’
Dundee:
Lyall; Oosenburgh, Flynn, Perrie, Johnstone (Boath 80’) Anderson (Whitton 62’), Howett, Crombie, Perrie (C), Bland, Rooney (Cargill 73’)
Subs: Culross Watson (GK), Boyd, Ciosek,, Wiseman
Goals: Perrie 30’
Bookings: Anderson 59’
