Hearts, Hibernian and Aberdeen have all secured their places in the Premier Sports Cup semi-finals after comfortable wins and a nervy penalty shoot-out, leaving Sunday’s Glasgow derby at Ibrox to decide the final club in the last-four draw.
At Ochilview on Friday night, Hearts produced a composed and clinical display to see off Championship leaders Stenhousemuir 3-0. The part-time hosts, who had eliminated Motherwell in the previous round, were unable to reproduce that giant-killing form against a dominant top-flight side. An early chance fell to Kinlay Bilham, who should have done better when presented with an opportunity to give the home side a surprise lead, while Sabri Guendouz glanced wastefully wide for Wouter Vrancken’s men in a cagey opening period.
Hearts gradually asserted their superiority and came close through JJ Williams, whose header was comfortably gathered by Darren Jamieson. The breakthrough arrived soon after when Williams, making his first start, rifled in a low shot from close range following clever work from Tomas Magnusson. Buoyed by the lead, the visitors showed greater attacking impetus, with Rogers Mato particularly lively and direct. The Uganda international demonstrated exceptional speed to meet a threaded pass from Guendouz and equal composure to slide in Hearts’ second. A more sedate second half ensued until Yan Dhanda lashed in a well-worked third at the back post from a smart knock-down by Williams, allowing the Edinburgh side to finish with relative ease and book their place in Sunday’s semi-final draw.
On Saturday afternoon in Dingwall, Hibernian avoided mounting pressure on head coach David Gray by clinically dispatching third-tier Ross County 3-0 to earn a semi-final date at Hampden. After back-to-back defeats by rivals Hearts and Scottish Premiership newcomers St Johnstone, Gray had spent the past week facing intense criticism amid a stuttering start to the season. There was no sign of the Hibs boss or his much-changed team feeling the heat, however, as the top-flight visitors charged into a three-goal first-half lead in the Highlands.
Thibault Klidje rose high to nod in Felix Passlack’s cross before Adam Mayor slammed a spot-kick into the top-left corner after County defender Akil Wright was penalised for a tug on Jason Kerr’s shirt. By the 39th minute, the away side were three up when another free-flowing move ended with Callum Wright’s deflected strike being turned in by Ante Suto. Gray’s men join Edinburgh neighbours Hearts, who defeated Stenhousemuir on Friday, in the hat for the semi-final draw.
The most dramatic of the completed ties unfolded at Rugby Park, where Aberdeen overcame being reduced to 10 men to beat Kilmarnock on penalties after a 1-1 draw. Spot-kicks from Alexander Briedl, Ayoub Mouloua and Jack Milne secured a 3-1 shoot-out win, sparking wild celebration in the away end which spilled on to the pitch. Following an end-to-end first half, the Dons had taken the lead early in the second period when Kevin Nisbet rose well at the back post to direct Connor Ronan’s floated cross past the outstretched Max Stryjek.
Aberdeen were reduced to 10 men five minutes later when Dan Happe was shown a second yellow for barging into Joe Hugill, and Killie struck level from the resulting set play as Tyreece John-Jules flicked in a smart backwards header to draw the tie level. Nisbet had almost opened the scoring in the opening minutes when Stryjek saved his first header on target, just moments before Hugill side-footed a shot wide for the home side in an end-to-end start. A smart flick from Djenairo Daniels on the end of Aaron Tshibola’s low cross went close as Killie ramped up the pressure, with Tom Lowery’s powerful long-range strike well stopped by Marius Muller.
Aberdeen grew into the game and enjoyed plenty of possession but failed to create any clear-cut chances until Nisbet nodded in the opening goal early in the second half. Not to be deterred by falling behind yet again this season, Killie rallied well leading to Happe’s dismissal and John-Jules’ headed leveller. The home side lobbed a succession of enticing crosses into the box late on but failed to find a breakthrough to avoid extra time. A remarkable string of blocks from Killie, coupled with fine goalkeeping from Stryjek, kept the game level and forced spot-kicks. Aberdeen showed great composure after Nesta Guinness-Walker missed their first, before Killie missed three in a row despite scoring their first through Hugill. Stephen Robinson’s side join Hearts and Hibs in the hat for the semi-final draw.
All eyes now turn to Glasgow, where Rangers and Celtic meet in the first Glasgow derby of the season at Ibrox. Celtic come into the tie having won all six of their league games, while Rangers have found better form in the Premiership with four consecutive wins after a shaky start. There will be no away fans inside the stadium. The semi-final draw will take place following the conclusion of the match.