A dramatic and rain-soaked afternoon at Hampden Park culminated in Rangers booking their place in the Scottish League Cup final after a grueling 2-1 extra-time victory over Aberdeen. The match had everything: a controversial red card, a VAR blackout, and a classic cup tie narrative that will be remembered for years. The win sets up a monumental Old Firm showdown against Celtic next month, a fixture that promises to be another epic chapter in Scottish football. Here on Jeetwin, we dive deep into the action, the talking points, and what this means for the final.
A Gluepot Pitch and a Tense Start
All the pre-match talk centered on the state of the Hampden Park pitch, which had drawn criticism after the weekend’s other semi-final. While the weather had improved, the surface was heavy and cut up from the first whistle, making fluent football a challenge for both sides. Rangers, with Allan McGregor and Alfredo Morelos restored to the starting lineup, started brightly. Fashion Sakala came agonizingly close in the fourth minute, his header from a James Tavernier cross beating Kelle Roos but cannoning back off the post.
Aberdeen, however, grew into the game. Their confidence was evident when Bojan Miovski thought he had given them the lead in the 15th minute, racing clear to finish, only for the offside flag—confirmed by VAR—to cut the celebrations short. The warning signs were there for Rangers, who saw efforts from Sakala and Morelos go astray as they struggled to find a breakthrough against a resolute Dons defence.
Miovski Stuns Rangers Before Jack Responds
Against the run of play, Aberdeen struck first. Just four minutes before halftime, a moment of defensive hesitation from Rangers was ruthlessly punished. Leighton Clarkson’s pass split the defence, and although Miovski appeared offside, Matty Kennedy played to the whistle, collected the ball, and delivered a perfect cross for the unmarked North Macedonian striker to cushion home. The Rangers end of Hampden fell silent, stunned by the sucker punch.
Rangers needed a response, and it came just past the hour mark from a familiar source. Former Aberdeen midfielder Ryan Jack played a neat one-two with Morelos on the edge of the box, and his driven shot took a crucial deflection off Celtic loanee Liam Scales, wrong-footing Roos and nestling in the net. The equalizer shifted the momentum firmly back towards Michael Beale’s side, who began to turn the screw in search of a winner.
A Red Card and VAR Drama
As the clock ticked towards 90 minutes, the game took another dramatic turn. In the second minute of added time, Aberdeen captain Anthony Stewart received a straight red card from referee Nick Walsh for a reckless, high lunge on Sakala near the touchline, reducing the Dons to ten men. The match seemed destined for extra time, but not before another moment of controversy as Ryan Kent appeared to swing an arm at Scales off the ball, an incident that went unpunished.
The drama didn’t end there. Just four minutes into extra-time, substitute Kemar Roofe—who had replaced the tiring Morelos—became the hero. Scott Wright drove into the box and cut the ball back perfectly for Roofe to slot home from close range, sending the Rangers fans into delirium.
Then, VAR itself became the story. The system suffered a technical failure, causing a significant delay. Referee Walsh even left the field at one point, presumably to check the goal, but fans were then informed VAR was temporarily out of service. It was later restored, but the hiatus added another layer of surreal tension to an already chaotic occasion. A spokesperson for the SPFL later confirmed a technical issue at the VAR station caused a five-minute blackout.
Rangers See It Through to Set Up Celtic Final
The remaining minutes of extra-time were a test of nerve and endurance. Despite being a man down, Aberdeen fought valiantly. Allan McGregor was forced into late saves from Liam Scales and Hayden Coulson as the ten men refused to surrender. When the final whistle finally blew, it was Rangers who emerged victorious, albeit looking ragged and relieved. They now march on to the final on February 26th, where they will face their oldest rivals, Celtic, in a match that needs no introduction.
Rangers manager Michael Beale praised his team’s character, telling Jeetwin after the match: “To win the game is fantastic… I’m just delighted for our fans and our players that we get to come back here in a final. It’s a fantastic final for everybody to look forward to.” His focus, however, quickly shifted to the immediate challenge of a Premiership match against Kilmarnock.
What’s Next for the Teams?
The physical and emotional toll of this semi-final will be felt immediately. Rangers travel to face Kilmarnock in the Scottish Premiership on Wednesday night, a match that will test their squad’s depth and resilience. Aberdeen, meanwhile, must pick themselves up for a difficult trip to Tynecastle to face Hearts. Both managers will be demanding a swift refocus as league duties take precedence.
# Rangers Edge Past 10-Man Aberdeen in Dramatic Semi-Final to Set Up Old Firm League Cup Final
This Hampden epic had it all: a stunning goal, a controversial red card, a VAR malfunction, and a late, late winner. Rangers showed grit to overcome a stubborn Aberdeen side and book their ticket to a dream—or perhaps daunting—Old Firm final against Celtic. The narrative for next month’s showdown is already writing itself. What did you think of the match? Were Rangers deserving winners? How do you see the final playing out? Share your thoughts with the Jeetwin community below and don’t forget to explore our extensive coverage of this and other major sporting events.
