Rangers came from behind against Aberdeen to set up an Old Firm Viaplay Cup final with a 2-1 win in extra-time.
Borjan Miovski had Aberdeen ahead five minutes before half-time before goals from Ryan Jack and Kemar Roofe turned the game around as Rangers booked a Hampden return.
Michael Beale's side started strongly and hit the post through Fashion Sakala a little after three minutes in. Barisic and Kent worked a short corner to Rangers captain, James Tavernier, who's cross was met well by the Zambian forward as the favourites went agonisingly close to an early opener.
The Gers continued their early dominance, with Ryan Kent putting a low effort wide before Sakala again was involved, this time being played through brilliantly by Malik Tillman only to see his effort blocked and earn Rangers one of their eventual eight corners.
Fifteen minutes in, out of almost nothing, Aberdeen thought they had taken the lead through their first chance. Leighton Clarkson played a brilliant pass to Borjan Miovski and the Macedonian striker took his effort brilliantly, hitting the roof of the net from a tight angle. The jubilance was short-lived however, as the linesman lifted his flag for offside.
Fashion Sakala was involved again as Rangers looked to kill any motivation Aberdeen could take, this time twisting and turning outside the box then sending a curling effort just over the top of Kelle Roos' goal. The chances kept coming as just after half an hour, Ryan Kent forced the Aberdeen goalkeeper into a big save with Sakala firing the rebound into the Hampden stands.
Minutes later, as Rangers kept the pressure up, James Tavernier played his corner along the ground to Borna Barisic and his curling cross met the header of Alfredo Morelos who was denied by Roos with the shot-stopper having a busy few minutes. The Colombian claimed the ball had crossed the line, but goal-line technology disagreed.
Five minutes before the break, a breakdown in communication put Rangers in trouble. Leighton Clarkson had an attempt to find Miovski in behind again, however he was offside. Borna Barisic then switched off, allowing Matty Kennedy to burst through, onside, and then cross back to the striker, Borjan Miovski who beat Allan McGregor with a deft touch and put Aberdeen ahead with half-time looming.
As Rangers fought for an equaliser once the teams returned to the pitch, the condition of Hampden's turf worsened. This didn't stop them from trying, and from the first real second-half chance, Ryan Jack had Hampden roaring for Rangers with a goal against his boyhood club. Ryan Kent found Jack with some clever trickery, who flicked it to Morelos and then put it past Roos via a Liam Scales deflection, after the striker returned the ball to the Scotland international.
The equaliser changed Jim Goodwin's thoughts and team as he replaced winger Duk with ex-Celt Jonny Hayes.
Ex-Ger Ross McCrorie was the first player to enter the referee's book sixty-nine minutes in after a dangerous tackle brought down Ryan Kent, who had caused the Aberdeen players all sorts of problems so far.
The Dons went so close to retaking the lead after seventy-two minutes as Leighton Clarkson whacked an effort past a shell shocked McGregor, who could only watch on as it smacked the post, albeit it would have been ruled out for an offside in the build-up. That was the last of the action for the on-loan midfielder, who hurt himself attempting the effort and was replaced by Connor Barron, whilst Rangers brought on fresh legs in Glen Kamara and Kemar Roofe in their attempt to win the game before extra-time.
In the dying stages, the match became feisty as first, Barisic was booked for a late tackle on Kennedy, halting an Aberdeen counter-attack. Kennedy then returned the favour, pushing the Croatian over and subsequently finding his name swiftly following the Rangers player into the book.
The ferocious affair continued, with eight minutes of stoppage time. After a Ryan Kent effort flew wide, Rangers advanced down the left-hand side again and as Sakala was found in space, Aberdeen captain Anthony Stewart clattered into him, late and high, leaving referee Nick Walsh no choice but to send him off and giving the favourites a one man advantage heading towards extra-time. Connor Goldson then picked up the last booking of normal time when he stopped an Aberdeen counter-attack.
Both teams then prepared for extra-time by making changes. Aberdeen went like-for-like, bringing goalscorer Miovski off for Christian Ramirez. Meanwhile, Michael Beale fired on an extra winger in Scott Wright, who replaced midfielder John Lundstram.
The palaver of Scottish football then begun to unfold, first of all through a delayed start to the thirty minutes. This was due to technical issues meaning VAR was not working. Eventually, the game went on and the drama continued.
Rangers came flying out the block and after a scuffed clearance, the ball dropped to James Tavernier who watched on as his effort was deflected on to the crossbar and over. Just minutes later, this meant nothing as Rangers did take the lead. Four minutes into extra-time, some brilliant footwork gave Scott Wright a chance to drive on and cut the ball back to fellow substitute, Kemar Roofe, who tapped home, much to the joy of the majority of Hampden's stands.
The chaos resumed just after as the refereeing team had more breakdowns with VAR and with twenty minutes to go, it was announced that the rest of the match would be played without the Video Assistant Referee. The tannoys were then drowned out by boos all around the stadium.
Boos almost changed to cheers as Aberdeen went close when Jonny Hayes hit a long-range effort forcing Allan McGregor into a big save. VAR then completed it's circus, as it returned for the final seventeen minutes and received a mocking cheer from supporters.
Adam Devine and Scott Arfield replaced Borna Barisic and Fashion Sakala for the last fifteen minutes and with just eight minutes left, the not long returned Kemar Roofe went down holding his shoulder and had to be replaced by youngster Charlie McCann. Aberdeen threw an extra attacker on in Marley Watkins as Graeme Shinnie left the field of action with the Reds chasing any glimmer of hope.
After Charlie McCann was booked for a cynical foul on Liam Scales, the Aberdeen defender then went close forcing McGregor into blocking his effort. Shouts of encouragement arrived from the Aberdeen end as three minutes of stoppage time was announced.
After Ylbir Ramadani was booked for pulling back Glen Kamara, Aberdeen advanced again, giving Rangers one more nail-biting moment when an overhit pass was kept in by Marley Watkins, who delivered a looping cross finding Hayden Coulson who had a terrific effort stopped by Allan McGregor who collected the ball and held on tightly until the final whistle, securing Rangers' victory.
Rangers can now look forward to returning to Hampden on the 26th February to take on their fiercest rivals, Celtic, in their first League Cup final since 2019/20 and will be hoping for their first League Cup trophy since 2010/11.
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