Aberdeen FC's Premier Sports Cup campaign ended in a narrow 1-0 semi-final defeat to Rangers at Hampden Park. Ryan Naderi's 83rd-minute strike was the only goal of a tight contest, sending the Dons out just short of the final.
Stephen Robinson's side, sitting ninth in the Premiership with 11 points from 11 games, defended doggedly for large periods. The team has recorded three wins and two draws from those 11 league matches, leaving them 17 points behind leaders Celtic. Goalkeeper Marius Müller made a key first-half save from Badredine Bouanani, while captain Kevin Nisbet, the club's top scorer with four goals this season, saw a header go close and a deflected shot saved. The team's recent form shows one win in their last five league matches, a run they will aim to address quickly.
Key moments and decisions
Rangers enjoyed more possession but found clear chances limited by a reshaped Aberdeen backline missing four centre-backs. Nicky Devlin, making his first start of the season, was booked late on. The major talking point came in the 16th minute when Ayoub Mouloua handled in his own area, but referee Ryan Lee, with VAR support, waved away penalty appeals. Aberdeen created a notable chance on the counter but Devlin could not convert. The decisive moment arrived when James Penrice found Naderi, who scored his eighth goal of the campaign.
Robinson made several changes, introducing Armstrong early for the injured Emmanuel Gyamfi and later bringing on Ntelo. The Dons now turn their focus to halting a three-match losing streak in all competitions. Aberdeen have scored 12 goals and conceded 14 in the league this season. The last meeting between the sides ended in a 1-1 draw on 19 September.
