Another weekend in the Premier Sports Cup and the quarter-finals certainly did not disappoint. From penalty shootouts to derby wins, the weekend hosted all of the action.
With a coveted spot in the semi-finals and the beacon of Hampden calling out to eight teams, there could only be four who would edge one step closer to League Cup glory. Stenhousemuir took on Hearts, Ross County hosted Hibernian, Kilmarnock were at home to Aberdeen, and to cap off the action, Rangers played host to Celtic. But who sealed their place in the semi-finals?
Stenny Dreams Shattered by Hearts
Stenhousemuir kicked off the action on Friday night as Hearts came to Ochilview Park and, having already defeated Motherwell in this competition, hope was riding high for the Warriors. However, Wouter Vrancken’s well-drilled side slowly began to shatter Stenny hearts as his team ran out 0-3 winners.
Hearts could easily have opened the scoring inside the first minute as Guendouz landed his header wide from a mere eight yards out.
Hearts began to cruise through the gears; however, Stenhousemuir were not for sitting back and absorbing the pressure. They instead tried to take the game to Hearts and were inches from success as Bilham fired his effort over from 15 yards out, just shy of the 10-minute mark.
Marvin Bartley’s side continued to try and squeeze an opening from the game, and the prime opportunity presented itself inside 20 minutes as the Warriors were awarded a free-kick 10 yards from goal. Bright stepped up but wastefully fired his effort straight into the arms of Reus.
Stenhousemuir continued to grow into the game, and so too did Hearts, and it was the Jambos who struck first through new striker JJ Williams. Findlay looped his header back across goal and Williams was there to poke the ball in after a scramble in the Stenny box. 0-1.
This was the goal Hearts required to get the wheels in motion, and they shifted to sixth gear as they added a second in the 38th minute. Mato picked up the ball just beyond the halfway line and, with his blistering pace, bore down on goal before clinically slotting the ball past Jamieson in the Stenny goal. 0-2.
Hearts continued to prod, yet the Stenny defence remained firm. However, when the third goal hit the back of the net, Ochilview knew the dream of a first semi-final was over. Williams was left unmarked at the back post in the 74th minute and headed the ball back across goal for Dhanda to fire the ball home. 0-3.
As the referee blew for full-time, it was Hearts who booked their place in the semi-finals. With the remaining three games still to be played, they had to wait to find their next opponent.
Hibees’ Euphoria in Highlands
The first match of Saturday afternoon came from Dingwall as Ross County hosted Hibernian, with the Staggies aiming for a Hampden trip for the first time since their Lguea Cup win against Hibs in 2015.
Hibs didn’t take long to open the scoring, with Klidje netting after just seven minutes. Passlack’s wicked cross in was met by Klidje’s Olympic-style high jump to head the ball beyond Foster in the County net. 0-1.
The Edinburgh side took just seven minutes to double their lead as Kerr had his shirt pulled in the box, a good spot from the referee to award a penalty. 21-year-old Mayor stepped up to take the spot-kick and rocketed the ball into the top corner — no keeper in the world was saving that one. 0-2.
Hibs looked to add a third in the 25th minute as Suto’s header went flying over the bar. Ross County were under the thumb and just couldn’t find a way to advance up the pitch, and matters went from bad to worse as the visitors did add a third before half-time.
Wright’s shot ricocheted off a backtracking County defender and bobbled nicely into the path of Suto, who this time made no mistake in sliding his effort into the net. 0-3. Game, set and match to Hibs even before the stroke of half-time.
The second half became stagnant, with neither team creating much in the final third. The only notable chance came once again for the visitors, who nearly scored an unconventional goal as a County clearance clattered back off Chaiwa and went hurtling towards goal, only to be met by the grateful arms of Foster.
Hibs became the second team to book a place at Hampden as they dispatched Ross County within the opening 39 minutes, a much-needed boost for David Gray’s side.
Aberdeen Get It Don
Saturday evening hosted a bottom-of-the-table clash in the quest for a semi-final spot as Aberdeen travelled to Kilmarnock. With both sides struggling domestically, was it a surprise the game went all the way to penalties?
Aberdeen launched their attack on the Killie net in the third minute of the match as a wonderfully weighted cross found Nesbit unmarked in the box, but the Dons captain’s header was clawed away by Stryjek in the Killie net.
Moments later, Hugill flashed his low effort inches wide of the far post as warning shots from both sides were fired inside the opening exchanges.
Kilmarnock grew into the game and began to dominate possession, with a few cute passages of play on display for the Killie fans. Lowery was next in line to have a pop at goal for Killie as his vicious volley was well beaten away by Muller in the 33rd minute.
Killie’s efforts, however, didn’t pay off as, in the 51st minute, it was Aberdeen who struck first as Nesbit’s header found the back of the net this time around. Ronan’s exquisite floating ball to the back post met the head of Nesbit, who looped his effort over the keeper. 0-1.
Although Aberdeen’s jubilation quickly turned to worry as centre-back Happe was sent off for a second yellow card for a foul on Hugill, having already been booked earlier in the game. It went from bad to worse for Robinson’s side as the resulting free-kick turned into a Killie goal. Kiltie swung the ball in and John-Jules was lurking at the penalty spot to glance his header in, making the action all square in the 58th minute. 1-1.
Both teams continued to huff and puff, but neither could find the decisive winner and, with regulation time over, extra time beckoned. Even in extra time, there was still no winner. There were plenty of shots and one superb goal-line clearance by Stryjek, but still no way through — so penalties it was, and poor they were from a Killie point of view.
The only penalty scorer for Killie was Hugill, as John-Jules, O’Hara and Tishbola all had their extremely poor penalties saved. Aberdeen did miss their first through Guinness-Walker before turning the tide and scoring three in a row thanks to Briedl, Mouloua and Milne.
It’s another semi-final for manager Stephen Robinson, this time in Aberdeen colours, as they search for their first League Cup trophy lift since 2013. After their cup exit, the pressure is still mounting on Neil McCann in the Killie dugout.
First Old Firm Win for McInnes
The most anticipated quarter-final came from Ibrox on Sunday as Rangers hosted Celtic, with the Gers aiming to beat Celtic for the first time in the League Cup since 2011.
With no away fans allowed in Ibrox, the stage was set as a home crowd roared the Gers on, and their backing paid off as McInnes’ side ran out 3-0 victors against their Glasgow rivals.
Kelsy nearly opened his Rangers account after loose play from Johnstone gifted the ball to the Rangers striker, but he could only fire his effort wide — a near-costly mistake from Celtic.
Rangers knocked on the Celtic door again as Johnstone once again gave the ball away with a timid punch. This time, it was Kim Min-su who volleyed his shot wide.
Celtic looked fearful, they looked lacklustre, and they turned woeful as Kelsy set up Neil in the 21st minute, who curled his effort low into the bottom corner, sending Ibrox into delirium as they took the lead at home. 1-0.
Rangers continued an onslaught of attack after attack, and Celtic struggled to gain any control of the game — a situation not commonly associated with the Champions. The afternoon only grew worse for Celtic as Kelsy opened his Rangers account and doubled their lead. Celtic failed to clear the danger after Penrice swung the cross in, and as Naderi headed it on, Kelsy was there at the back post to volley the ball home on the 60-minute mark. 0-2.
Just two minutes later, Rangers were ready to party as Fernandez thought he had added a third; however, the referee ruled the goal as offside.
With 25 minutes left to play, Neil made it three and bagged himself a brace as he picked up a similar position to his first goal at the edge of the 18-yard box before curling his effort into the top-right corner. 3-0.
As Rangers hit cruise control, there was truly no return for Celtic, and the message from Celtic captain McGregor on the pitch was ‘no more goals’ — the first time that’s ever been associated with Celtic.
As the curtain fell on the first Old Firm of the season, it is Rangers who possess the bragging rights in Glasgow and book themselves a spot in the semi-finals.
As they closed out the quarter-final action, who faces who in the semi-finals? Aberdeen take on Rangers, and another derby is in order as Hearts face Hibernian.
With plenty of action from the weekend, you can only expect that more will follow as four teams battle it out in the semi finals, with the glory and pride of a cup at stake. Until next time.
To watch the match report and reaction from Stenhousemuir vs Hearts follow the link: https://vm.tiktok.com/ZN8jxDKGj/
