“A wave of bookings in first-half stoppage time set the tone for a bad-tempered, foul-strewn contest.”
“Dujon Sterling booked for a foul just before the penalty incident, adding to the mounting disciplinary count.”
“Lawrence Shankland converts from the penalty spot to give Rangers the lead against the run of Aberdeen's territorial pressure.”
Pivotal“Kevin Nisbet involved in a key moment as Aberdeen pushed hard for a late equalizer following a flurry of substitutions.”
Aberdeen
Rangers
Outstanding performance
Rangers•MidfielderRangers made their superior possession and passing accuracy count, dominating the underlying numbers with 18 shots to Aberdeen's 10 and edging territory 56-44, before Lawrence Shankland's 69th-minute penalty proved the difference. Aberdeen were the more direct and physical side, committing 21 fouls and picking up seven of the nine total bookings, but their pressing never translated into clear-cut chances despite matching Rangers for dangerous attacks. The game was littered with stoppages and cautions throughout the second half, disrupting any rhythm, and Aberdeen's late rally after a flurry of substitutions came too late to find an equalizer. For Rangers, the win keeps them firmly in the title picture, while Aberdeen's home struggles continue as they searched for answers against a disciplined, clinical visiting side.
How entertaining was this match?
Kosta Nedeljkovic takes a left-footed shot but misses.
Ben Godfrey is substituted for Findlay Curtis.
Ryan Don Naderi comes on for Lawrence Shankland.
Kevin NisbetVAR decision: goal disallowed due to a foul by Kevin Nisbet.
Kevin NisbetKevin Nisbet takes a shot with his head and scores a goal.
Ayoub Mouloua takes a shot with his head, but it is saved.
Kevin Nisbet's header is saved.
Goal! Kevin Nisbet scores to make it 1-1.
Djeidi Gassama takes a right-footed shot but misses.
Lewis MayoYellow CardLewis Mayo receives a yellow card.
Ayoub Mouloua comes on for Connor Ronan.
Daisuke Yokota is on, and Min-su Kim is off.
Kosta Nedeljkovic comes on for James Penrice.
Goal! The score is now 0-1.
Lawrence ShanklandLawrence Shankland takes a shot with his right foot and scores.
Goal in the penalty shootout! Lawrence Shankland scores, making it 0-1.
Offside.
Corner awarded.
Dujon SterlingYellow CardDujon Sterling receives a yellow card.
Lewis Smith is on, and Mitchy Ntelo is off.
Corner awarded.
Daniel Happe takes a shot with his head, but it's blocked.
Corner awarded.
Djeidi Gassama takes a right-footed shot, but it's blocked.
Min-su Kim takes a right-footed shot, but it is saved.
Corner awarded.
Yellow card issued to Olutoyosi Tajudeen Olusanya.
Corner awarded.
Lawrence Shankland takes a right-footed shot, but it is blocked.
Kevin Nisbet's right-footed shot is blocked.
Djeidi Gassama takes a right-footed shot but misses.
Cameron Devlin receives a yellow card.
Corner awarded.
Offside.
Corner awarded.
Stuart Armstrong takes a left-footed shot but misses.
Stuart Armstrong replaces Tony Yogane.
The first half ends with a score of 0-0.
Yellow card issued to Aremu Afeez.
Connor RonanYellow CardConnor Ronan receives a yellow card.
Findlay Curtis takes a right-footed shot but misses.
Kevin Nisbet takes a shot with his head, but it's saved.
Daniel Neill takes a right-footed shot, but it misses the target.
Corner awarded.
Lawrence Shankland's header is saved.
Min-su Kim takes a left-footed shot, but it's saved.
Kevin Nisbet attempts a header but misses the shot.
Findlay CurtisYellow CardYellow card issued to Findlay Curtis.
Christopher Cadden takes a right-footed shot, but it is blocked.
Christopher Cadden receives a yellow card.
Corner awarded.
Findlay Curtis takes a right-footed shot, but it is blocked.
Corner awarded.
Connor Ronan takes a right-footed shot, but it is blocked.
Offside.
Corner awarded.
Djeidi Gassama takes a right-footed shot, but it is blocked.
Offside.
James Penrice takes a left-footed shot but misses.
Offside.
Min-su Kim takes a right-footed shot but misses.
Findlay Curtis takes a left-footed shot but misses.
Kevin Nisbet takes a header shot, but it misses the target.
Corner awarded.
Min-su Kim takes a left-footed shot, but it's saved.
Djeidi Gassama takes a right-footed shot, but it is blocked.
Daniel HappeYellow CardDaniel Happe receives a yellow card.
Mitchy Ntelo takes a left-footed shot, but it is saved.
Daniel Happe takes a left-footed shot but misses.
Kick-off has occurred!
Aberdeen host a Rangers side reeling from Thursday's shock Europa Conference League exit to Jablonec, with manager Derek McInnes under mounting pressure. Stephen Robinson's Dons, unbeaten in seven of their last eight games, sense an opportunity at Pittodrie despite Rangers' recent dominance in this fixture.
