So close they can almost taste the glory! Four teams entered the weekend with silverware firmly in their sights, but only two could survive the battle and secure their place in the Premier Sports Cup final.
With a coveted spot in the final up for grabs, Hampden played host to two thrilling semi-final clashes. Rangers faced Aberdeen on Saturday, before the fierce Edinburgh Derby took centre stage on Sunday. One tie promised a battle between two familiar foes, while the other had all the ingredients for a dramatic showdown between the capital’s biggest rivals.
Rangers Get the Job ‘Don’
Rangers and Aberdeen kicked off the cup action at Hampden on Saturday as McInnes’ flying Rangers side faced an inconsistent Aberdeen. On approach to the tie, Rangers were unbeaten in 10 games, whereas Stephen Robinson’s Aberdeen were yet to experience a solid run of consistent form.
When these two sides meet, the margins are often razor-thin, with every chance and every mistake potentially proving decisive. Saturday was no different in terms of the scoreline, and whilst slim margins rang true for yesterday’s match, the game could go down as one of the most painful 90 minutes of football ever.
Despite Rangers emerging victorious by a single goal, it was by no means pretty or comfortable viewing. The most shocking aspect was that Rangers had over 20 shots at goal, with only five on target and one hitting the back of the net.
The fact that there were only six saves between the two keepers tells you all you need to know. Finding their shooting boots wasn’t the only issue for both sides; neither could string a series of coherent passes together, making for very disjointed viewing.
There were headers flying wide and a few shots being stopped, but for long spells, the game lacked the spark expected of a semi-final, with genuine moments of quality few and far between.
Muller was called into action for Aberdeen as his right foot stopped a shot from Bouanani in the 63rd minute. The only other piece of scintillating action came in the 82nd minute when, much to everyone’s relief, a goal was actually scored.
Penrice’s low-driven cross found in-form striker Naderi lurking within the six-yard box, and all he had to do was toe-poke the ball past Muller and into the net, with the keeper only able to watch in disbelief as the Rangers frontman was given the space to do so. 1-0.
One finalist was confirmed, but the identity of their opponent remained a mystery. All eyes now turned to Sunday, where the Edinburgh Derby promised passion, drama and the possibility of a shock result.
The Sun Shines on Leith
What have we witnessed?!
Few could have predicted this. Perhaps the Hibees faithful dared to dream, but even among the most optimistic Hibs supporters, there must have been doubts about their chances of reaching the Premier Sports Cup final.
Looking solely at recent domestic form, they would have been favourites to lose the tie. They’ve looked lacklustre at times and have struggled immensely to make any form of impact on the league.
However, cups are a funny phenomenon. They are the battlefield for the underdogs, and today, the underdog prevailed.
Hibs, who until very recently had occupied the bottom of the table, having not won a league game since late August, faced Hearts, who have continued to go from strength to strength.
It was the battle of the two Edinburgh giants and the first time they had ever met each other in a League Cup semi-final. As they stared down the barrel of a cup match, only two things were at stake: the opportunity to play in the final and the long-lasting bragging rights.
Thankfully for both the fans inside the stadium and those watching on the telly, this affair was far more entertaining than yesterday’s game, with both sides gunning for victory.
Hearts opened the scoring inside four minutes as Miller’s wonderfully curled corner found the head of Braga, who was in acres of space to power the ball home, netting his first-ever derby goal. 1-0.
Now, many may have thought Hibs’ hearts were about to be broken, but that couldn’t have been further from the truth, as they rampaged on to turn the tie around and inflict maximum damage on their rivals.
Seconds before the 19th-minute mark, Elding lofted the ball over the Hearts backline, giving Boyle something to chase down. The striker made light work of the pass as he squeezed the ball under the keeper’s legs to draw the scoreline level. 1-1.
Hibs continued the scoring action five minutes before the close of the half as Newell took a pop at goal from just inside the 18-yard box. Despite the keeper getting a strong hand to it, he palmed it straight into the path of McGrath, who, in truth, may not have known much about it, as the ball bounced off his foot and into the goal. 1-2.
This was where the goalmouth entertainment ended, and as the referee blew for full-time, it was Hibs’ night to celebrate, having not only overcome their greatest rivals but also booked their place in a cup final for the first time since 2021.
What better way to close out the day for Hibs than with a spine-tingling rendition of Sunshine on Leith, with players arm in arm and a packed stand reciprocating that euphoric feeling.
As the curtain fell on the weekend, two teams will ready themselves for a final showdown on 13 December, where a winner will be crowned. Will Rangers get their first taste of silverware, or can Marink Reedijk lift his first Scottish trophy? Only time will tell.
