The Courier & Advertiser (Fife Edition)
Dons reach Betfred Cup semi-finals with shootout win
HIBERNIAN 0 ABERDEEN 0 (AET, ABERDEEN WIN 6-5 ON PENALTIES)
Aberdeen held their nerve with a nailbiting 6-5 penalty shootout victory against Hibernian in the Betfred Cup quarter-final last night.
After a tense 120 minutes, suddendeath penalties were required and Thomas Agyepong smashed the crossbar with the Hibees’ seventh kick to send the Dons into the last four after the teams were goalless after 120 minutes.
Graeme Shinnie, Gary MackaySteven and Bruce Anderson scored for the Dons, while Vykintas Slivka, Steven Whittaker and Lewis Stevenson netted for the hosts. Mallan was denied by Lewis and McGinn missed his penalty, with Stevie May and Martin Boyle sending the shootout to sudden-death.
Chris Forrester tucked his away and so did Shaw, with Scott McKenna bagging the sixth for the Dons before Agyepong’s key contribution.
Derek McInnes had stuck to his pledge of playing two strikers, with Sam Cosgrove and James Wilson again paired up front. Niall McGinn, was only fit enough to make the bench, replaced by Max Lowe, who lined up as a more defensive option on the left side.
Florian Kamberi blew a golden chance to punish slack defending from the Dons when he shot wide.
Ball was a surprising candidate to take an Aberdeen set-piece but nearly justified the decision as he crashed a shot off the underside of the bar.
Joe Lewis was a relieved man on 34 minutes when a Boyle finish was ruled out for hand ball.
The pulsating contest showed little signs of slowing down in the second half, with Mackay-Steven and Kamberi having chances before the hour.
Hyndman tested Lewis with a low shot and Boyle had a further goal ruled out, this time for offside, as Hibs took control.
Oli Shaw also screwed wide but the Dons held on to claim the shootout win.