Aberdeen beat Kilmarnock in a penalty shoot-out to reach the semi-finals of the Premier Sports Cup, overcoming a red card and a late equaliser in a dramatic quarter-final at Rugby Park on Saturday night. The win sets up a Hampden Park meeting with Rangers in the last four.
Kevin Nisbet put Aberdeen ahead in the 52nd minute against the run of play, but the visitors were reduced to ten men soon after when centre-back Dan Happe was shown a second yellow card for a foul on the onrushing Joe Hugill. Kilmarnock substitute Tyreece John-Jules levelled from the resulting free-kick.
Neither side could find a winner in normal time or extra time, and the tie went to penalties. Aberdeen goalkeeper Marius Muller made three saves in the shoot-out to prove the hero. Aberdeen had seen defender Nesta Guinness-Walker miss their first spot kick, but manager Stephen Robinson had already replaced goalscorer Nisbet with Ayoub Mouloua ten minutes before the shoot-out began, and Mouloua stepped up to score with a Panenka. The final whistle triggered a pitch invasion from the away end that is likely to be investigated by the authorities.
Pressure eases slightly on Robinson
The result offered some relief for Robinson, whose Aberdeen side have taken just four points from five league games this season, three of them from a win over Hearts on the opening weekend that was, by the manager's own admission, undeserved. That form had pushed the club's supporters close to breaking point heading into the tie.
Robinson praised his players' effort afterwards, and there is little doubt about their appetite. Despite falling behind to ten men, Aberdeen pushed hard in the closing stages of extra time and forced several saves from Kilmarnock goalkeeper Max Stryjek before winning the shoot-out.
Goals in short supply for Aberdeen
Chance creation remains a concern. Nisbet has ten goals this season and nine in this competition alone, while the only other Aberdeen player to have scored in the league is defender Lewis Mayo. Mitchy Ntelo struggled alongside Nisbet up front and was replaced at half-time by Toyosi Olusanya, who added more of a threat. Findlay Marshall came on for the disappointing Stuart Armstrong at the start of extra time and brought fresh energy and ball-carrying to Aberdeen's play.
First away league win since December
The victory was Aberdeen's first away from home against Premiership opposition since last December, though it came in a cup tie rather than the league. Robinson's side face difficult league trips to Motherwell and Hibernian in the coming days, and further pressure on the manager could follow if results do not improve.
McCann also under scrutiny at Kilmarnock
Kilmarnock head coach Neil McCann faces mounting scrutiny of his own. He was booed by home supporters at full-time, and afterwards was said to have been harsh and unsparing in his assessment of his players, who he felt lacked spark when the tie was there to be won.
Kilmarnock were the better side in the first half, with Erik Ring and Tom Lowery both forcing saves from Muller. After John-Jules's equaliser gave them a numerical advantage following Happe's sending-off, Kilmarnock failed to capitalise and appeared to lose their way.
The shoot-out summed up their night. Muller dived well to save Mark O'Hara's penalty, but the misses that followed from John-Jules and Aaron Tshibola were poor, leaving Kilmarnock still searching for the form to lift them off the bottom of the Premiership table.
