The Dutchman was given his marching orders after two yellow cards and will now miss next week’s crucial clash.
Goals from Russell Anderson and Steve Lovell gave the home side a 2-0 lead before Dado Prso pulled one back before half time.
Peter Lovenkrands bagged an equaliser in spectacular style just after the break but Ricksen was then sent off just as the visitors were moving into top gear. Jamie Smith then hit the winner in the 88th minute and Gers couldn’t respond.
Ironically the match started well with Gers creating the first chance of the game.
Barry Ferguson’s floated free kick was punched clear by Ryan Esson, but only as far as Fernando Ricksen on the edge of the box. Fortunately for Aberdeen, however, Russell Anderson was on the line to head the Dutchman’s shot clear.
Within 60 seconds Novo registered his first effort on goal, although his shot drifted just over the bar.
After being left on the bench during the mid-week trip to Cyprus, Peter Lovenkrands was re-instated from the start and carved out a fine chance for himself after quarter of an hour.
The Dane broke down the left flank, before cutting inside and just as he was about to pull the trigger, Anderson slid in with an excellent tackle.
But those were the only highlights for the visitors in the opening stages.
The Light Blues were exposed in defence on several occasions against Famagusta, particularly with long balls over the top, and although Bob Malcolm lined up alongside Rodriguez in place of Marvin Andrews, the frailties were still there.
With 17 minutes gone Steven Lovell broke through on goal but the linesman flagged for offside, after half an hour, however, Gers weren’t so fortunate.
Bob Malcolm fouled Kevin McNaughton to concede a free kick on the edge of the box and from the resultant set piece Dons’ influential skipper Anderson put them ahead.
Nicholson’s curling cross was cleared by Malcolm, but his effort went straight up in the air and Anderson reacted quickest to bundle the ball over the line.
The visitors looked stunned and seven minutes later their troubles deepened when Lovell beat the offside trap and sent a low drive past Waterreus.
At this point reality seemed to sink in and the Light Blues went straight up the pitch and pulled a goal back after the Dons conceded a corner.
Dado Prso, who had looked menacing throughout, rose high about everyone to nod Ricksen’s inswinging cross home to make it 2-1.
It was just what Alex McLeish’s side needed and in first half injury time Peter Lovenkrands could have pulled the scores level, but headed wide from another corner.
The Dane more than made up for his miss after the break though when he netted a sensational equaliser.
Steven Thompson replaced Malcolm at the interval and it was his cross into the box that Lovenkrands collected before unleashing a brilliant over-head kick past Esson.
But just as things looked as though they were on the up for Gers disaster struck when Ricksen was sent off for a second bookable offence.
Within a minute of his departure, Lovell had the ball in the net again but thankfully for Gers it was flagged for offside.
Alex Rae came on for Novo to bolster the midfield and he made an immediate impact playing in Prso down the right.
The Croatian then fired over a fizzing cross, which Lovenkrands headed down but Murray could only direct his shot over the bar.
Ronald Waterreus has been the hero in the last two matches and produced another couple of strong saves as Aberdeen launched a string of attacks on his goal.
But the Rangers defence couldn’t hold out an longer when Jamie Smith picked up the ball 20-yards out and fired a low shot past the Dutch stopper to make it 3-2.
ABERDEEN: Esson; Anderson, Diamond, Severin; McNaughton, Nicholson, Dempsey (Stewart 81), Clark, Smith; Muirhead (Foster 79), Lovell (Craig 73)
SUBS: Langfield, Winter, Donald
BOOKINGS: Nicholson 6, Diamond 27
RANGERS: Waterreus; Pierre-Fanfan, Rodriguez, Malcolm (Thompson 46), Ball; Novo (Rae 61), Ricksen, Ferguson, Murray, Lovenkrands (Ross 74); Prso
SUBS: Klos, Adam, McCormack, N’Guessan
BOOKINGS: Lovenkrands 27, Malcolm 29, Ricksen 41, 55, Thompson
RED CARDS: Ricksen 55
REFEREE: John Underhill
MAN-OF-THE-MATCH: Ian Murray