Match Report: Aberdeen 2-3 Rangers

by: Louise Shaw

A LATE Scott Arfield double secured all three points for Rangers in a 3-2 victory at Pittodrie this evening.

Fashion Jr gave Rangers an early lead with an 11th minute strike but it was cancelled out by a Luis Lopes free-kick on the stroke of half-time. Leighton Clarkson gave Aberdeen the lead in the second-half before two injury time goals from Arfield saw Gers head back to Glasgow with the three points.

From Thursday’s victory over Hibernian, Connor Goldson made a welcome return from injury as he was named in the starting XI for the first time since October.

Rangers lined-up at Pittodrie with Allan McGregor in goal and a back four of captain James Tavernier, Connor Goldson, James Sands and Adam Devine.

Ryan Jack, Glen Kamara and Malik Tillman were in midfield, with Fashion Jr and Ryan Kent supporting striker Alfredo Morelos.

It was Aberdeen who got the action underway at Pittodrie, in Michael Beale’s first away match since joining the club as manager earlier this month.

As expected, it was a lively start to the match in the north-east as both sides looked to get an early foothold on the game. Bojan Miovski had a strike blocked for Aberdeen before Ryan Kent curled an effort from outside the box just wide at the other end.

With 11 minutes on the clock it was Rangers who had the advantage. It was a well-worked move from the Light Blues as Alfredo Morelos and Ryan Jack combined down the right with Morelos finding Fashion Jr in the box.

The Zambian’s initial touch towards goal was blocked by Anthony Stewart but fell back to Fashion Jr who made no mistake in slotting low beyond Kelle Roos.

There was almost a second just a minute later as Malik Tillman did well to find space with the ball at the byline and cut it back to Morelos but Kelle Roos blocked the close-range effort.

It was the hosts who were next to have a chance as Jayden Richardson delivered a ball into the box from the right which Luis Lopes touched goalward but he was denied by the post.

Ramadani had a good opportunity shortly after he got on the end of a Lopes ball but the Aberdeen man was unable to find the target.

Fashion Jr came agonisingly close to a second for Michael Beale’s men as the match approached half-time as he released a strike from distance after a lay-off from Morelos but it was just inches high of the target.

James Sands was shown a yellow card late in the first-half for a challenge on Bojan Miovski with the home side awarded a free-kick on the edge of the box. Luis Lopes stepped-up to the set-piece for Aberdeen and sent an effort into the top corner to send the sides in level at half-time.

Into the second-half, it was Aberdeen who took an early lead in this half as just 7 minutes after the break the home side were ahead. Liam Scale’s ball was cleared by Rangers but only as far as Leighton Clarkson who fired beyond Allan McGregor.

Shortly after, Beale made four changes to his side as Scott Wright, John Lundstram, Scott Arfield and Ben Davies were introduced in place of Fashion Jr, Ryan Jack, Glen Kamara and James Sands.

Aberdeen substitute Jonny Hayes flashed a strike wide of goal before Rangers had a fantastic chance to equalise as Scott Arfield’s strike was saved by Roos before the danger was cleared on the Aberdeen line.

With 10 minutes of the game remaining, Arfield had another chance at goal as he was played in by Malik Tillman but the shot was held by Roos, before Lundstram also saw a strike gathered by the Aberdeen goalkeeper.

Five minutes into added time Rangers got an equaliser. Roos was unable to hold a long-range strike from Ryan Kent with Scott Arfield alert to the rebound to get the Light Blues back level.

It was a remarkable end to the game for Rangers as in the final minute of the game a Malik Tillman cross into the box fell for Scott Arfield and the midfielder was on target again to secure the three points in Aberdeen.

RANGERS: McGregor, Tavernier, Goldson, Sands (Davies, 59), Devine, Jack (Lundstram, 59), Kamara (Arfield, 59), Tillman, Kent, Fashion Jr (Wright, 59), Morelos.

Subs not used: McLaughlin, Matondo, McCann, King, Lowry.

Aberdeen: Roos, McCrorie, Scales, Stewart, Barron, Miovski (Watkins, 65), Lopes (Hayes, 65), Ramadani, Clarkson (Morris, 65), Coulson (McKenzie, 80), Richardson.

Subs not used: Lewis, Besuijen, Duncan, Milne, Ramirez.

Referee: William Collum