ABERDEEN are in another Betfred Cup semi-final after an incredible night at Easter Road which ended with a dramatic penalty shoot-out going the way of Derek McInnes’s side.
Hibernian substitute Thomas Agyepong hit the underside of crossbar with the 14th spot-kick and that sent Aberdeen to Hampden with a 6-5 win after 120 minutes in which neither team could score.
Hibs were left to rue missing perhaps a club record number of goalscoring opportunities and whle McInnes’s men were also guilty of bad finishing, they found their radar when it really counted.
This was as good as football as can be in Scotland. Both teams played some superb stuff, a ridiculous number of chances were created, some of the one-touch passing a joy to watch, and neither manager could say anything but a thank you to their players for their efforts.
It went to sudden death in penalties after Aberdeen’s Niall McGinn and Stevie Mallan of Hibs saw their efforts saved.
And poor Agyepong, who played well when he got on, was the fall-guy.
To record every chance created, and missed, and all the incidents would fill several pages. It was an astonishing evening down Leith way.
Two minutes had gone when Gary Mackay-Steven, the Aberdeen winger, sent a free-kick into the Hibs area, Michael Devlin got a flick, Andrew Considine a shot then Paul Hanlon a crucial block
At the other end, and five minutes on, a lovely chipped pass from Emerson Hyndman put Florian Kamberi in behind the Aberdeen back four, he got the ball around goalkeeper Joe Lewis but was sent slightly wide and off balance which meant his shot trickled past.
Hibs were by far the better side but just before the half our, Mark Milligan tripped James Wilson on the edge of the home side’s box. The resultant free-kick was taken by Dominic Ball, his right boot made the ball curl and dip only for it to hit the bar and somehow stay out.
Hyndman had one effort beaten away by Aberdeen keeper Lewis and on 33 minutes put the ball in the net but referee Steven McLean spotted that he had used an arm in the build-up.
The half ended with Hibs’ Shaw testing Lewis with a well hit low hit from outside the box, the Aberdeen keeper spilled the shot but was saved Devine who dealt with the follow-up.
The second-half has a lot to live up to. And once again the ebb and flow meant you dare not blink less you missed something. And
Seven minutes after the break, and it had been all Hibs, Aberdeen crept forward, James Wilson’s gave Mackay-Steven a glimpse at goal which to accepted, but Adam Bogdan got down to make a decent save.
Next up was Hibs striker Kamberi on 58 minutes. His turn to get away from Devlin was superb, he got into the box got the ball on his right foot but it ended up in the stand.
Aberdeen survived another scare on 69 minutes. Mallon’s cross from a free-kick sailed over everyone apart from Hanlon at the back post, he got the ball on target with a sliding effort which Lewis bravely stood up to.
Hyndman should have done a lot better when he got a good look at goal with 12 minutes of normal time to go but he got his effort from 18 yards all wrong.
Hibs kept creating and missing, with Shaw blazing the ball wide with minute remaining when a pass to Kamberi was on.
So, extra-time it was.
Both teams, would you believe, got through the opposition defence and yet couldn't find the target.
Penalties it was and Aberdeen are in the hunt for silverware once again. Remarkable.
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