Rangers secured their place in the Premier Sports Cup final with a 1-0 victory over Aberdeen at Hampden Park. Ryan Naderi's late goal was the decisive moment in a tight semi-final.
The 23-year-old forward scored his eighth goal of the season with a close-range finish in the 83rd minute. The move involved Badredine Bouanani, who knocked the ball back to Blair Penrice. Penrice's driven effort was turned in by Naderi, beating Aberdeen goalkeeper Marius Müller.
Aberdeen's reshuffled side
Aberdeen were forced into significant changes, with five defenders unavailable. This led to a reshuffled defence and midfield, impacting their structure. Nicky Devlin made his first start of the season, while Tuur Rommens began at left-back with Penrice moving into midfield. Dan Neil was dropped from the starting lineup, and Stuart Armstrong replaced the injured Emmanuel Gyamfi.
Despite these adjustments, Aberdeen created few clear chances. They were restricted to just one shot on target in the first half. Müller had earlier parried a shot from Bouanani and blocked another effort with his foot. Rangers, who entered the match unbeaten in 10 games, controlled large periods. Aberdeen manager Barry Robson acknowledged his team's defensive effort but lamented the lack of quality in the final third, stating they needed to be more clinical with the limited possession they had.
Rangers' persistent pressure
Rangers created several opportunities before the breakthrough. Naderi himself had headed a Nico Raskin cross just over the bar before halftime. Kevin Nisbet also glanced a header wide, and Müller did well to beat away a Raskin volley. Aberdeen's keeper also saved a deflected drive from Nisbet, with Olwethu Makhanya blocking another attempt. Rangers captain James Tavernier was instrumental in much of their build-up play, frequently pushing forward from right-back to deliver dangerous crosses into the box.
The goal finally came after sustained pressure. Bouanani fired wide from the edge of the box shortly before the winning move. Naderi's clinical finish from inside the six-yard box ended Aberdeen's resistance and sent Rangers through. Rangers manager Philippe Clement praised his team's mentality and persistence. He also noted the importance of the squad's depth, with several players stepping up in the absence of key figures like the injured Todd Cantwell.
Rangers will now face the winner of the other semi-final between Hearts and Hibernian. The Premier Sports Cup final is scheduled for December 13 at Hampden Park.
Read the full report at theguardian.com
