Hibernian 0-1 Aberdeen
Miovski (78)
McKenzie (RED CARD, 75)
By Callum McFadden at Hampden Park.
Aberdeen defeated Hibs against the odds to progress to the Scottish League Cup final where they will face either Hearts or Rangers.
The first half was a cagey affair with both sides understandably aware of the potential reward that a win would bring and wary of the consequences of a defeat.
The best chance of the half fell to Elie Youan who blazed an effort from inside the Aberdeen penalty area over in the tenth minute following a layoff from forward Dylan Vente.
Overall, Hibernian had the better of the first-half chances with Martin Boyle looking dangerous on the counter attacker. He won his side a few corners but the deliveries from Joe Newell were not particularly threatening for the Dons defence.
Meanwhile, Aberdeen’s lone striker Bojan Miovski was an isolated figure for large parts of the first half with the Dons best opportunity coming from a Leighton Clarkson free kick at the edge of the area which he blazed against the Hibernian wall.
After the half time interval, Hibs started with a much higher tempo and thought that they had taken the lead when Will Fish picked out Martin Boyle with a lofted ball over the top of the Aberdeen defence, which Boyle controlled and slotted beyond Kellie Roos.
The goal led to a lengthy VAR check which ultimately determined that Boyle was offside when the ball from Fish was played, and the game remained goalless.
That decision did not deter Hibs who continued to flood forward in numbers with Jairo Tavares testing the palms of Kelle Roos before Martin Boyle saw an effort deflected narrowly wide by of the Aberdeen goal by full-back Nicky Devlin.
Momentum appeared to further shift Hibs way when Aberdeen defender Jack McKenzie was sent off in the 75th minute for a shove on Lewis Miller. It was a moment of madness for the Dons defender as he was already on a booking.
However, in a truly dramatic twist to proceedings, Aberdeen took the lead with their very first attack following the red card as captain Graeme Shinnie led a counterattack that saw Bojan Miovski round off the move with a well-placed finish beyond a helpless David Marshall in the Hibs goal.
Aberdeen had fifteen minutes and injury time to hold on for after the goal and they did so resolutely.
The result caps a massive win for Barry Robson and his men who will return to Hampden next month for the League Cup final – against either Hearts or Rangers.
However, the result also marked a heartbreaking day for Nick Montgomery and his Hibs side who dominated large parts of the game only to be on the losing side come full-time.
WFi Player of the Match: Bojan Miovski (Aberdeen) – A clinical finish to send the Dons to the Scottish League Cup final.
Hibernian: Marshall, Miller, Fish, Bushiri, Obita, Youan, Levitt, Newell, Tavares, Vente, Boyle.
Substitutes: Wollacott, Hanlon, Stevenson, Doidge, Delferriere, Campbell, Molotnikov, Whittaker, Landers.
Aberdeen: Roos, Devlin, Gartenmann, Rubezic, Jensen, MacKenzie, Shinnie, Barron, Clarkson, McGrath, Miovski.
Substitutes: Doohan, Duk, Gueye, Hayes, Sokler, Polvara, Duncan, MacDonald, Milne.