Hibernian 4 - 1 Aberdeen

The match was raging from end to end and three minutes later Aberdeen won their first corner when a Severin shot was deflected wide. McNeil flapped at the ball but managed to get enough on it to clear the danger. The Dons won a second corner in the 23rd minute as the pace of Mackie and Lovell caused problems. The resulting corner caused panic in the Hibs defence and Lovell should have done better in the six-yard box but couldn't get his shot away. At the other end Sproule beat Foster for the first time but Langfield blocked the Irishman's effort. Severin then had a chance from the edge of the box, but he couldn't get power behind his shot.

Clark broke well in the 27th minute but his pass to the breaking Mackie was poor and possession was lost. Four minutes later the keeper picked up a pass back from Stevenson and the Dons won a free kick eight yards from the touchline. The ball was blocked on the line as Severin fired in the shot. Fletcher was lucky to escape a red card in the 32nd minute when he pushed Hart to the ground. For some reason referee Thomson failed to speak to his assistant who clearly saw the incident, but instead flashed a yellow card at both players. Considine set up Foster five minutes later but his pass to Severin was poor and it allowed Hibs to break.

Dempsey went close to regaining the lead in the 41st minute when his free kick looked to have beaten McNeil but scraped inches wide of the target. Aberdeen appeared to hold the upper hand at this stage, but both sides looked capable of adding to the scoring. Clark then had a chance in the final minute but his shot went well wide of the target. At the other end a late Hibs corner produced a second goal in the second minute of the one-minute of injury time.

Hibs made two changes at the interval with Benjelloun and Thomson coming on for Stewart and Shiels and Benjelloun added a third two minutes after coming on. Nicholson stood on the ball and lost possession allowing Fletcher to set up the Moroccan as he strode forward, rounded Langfield and calmly rolled the ball into the net. Aberdeen tried to hit back but Hibs defended a free kick comfortably. Severin then lost possession in the middle of the park and Sproule almost broke for a fourth. Langfield saved from Fletcher in the 52nd minute and three minutes later Calderwood made his first change as Maguire replaced Dempsey.

In the 56th minute Aberdeen swung in a poor cross that was easily gathered by McNeill allowing Hibs to break quickly. No one went to challenge Benjelloun and the Moroccan capitalised on the space and fired past Langfield although the keeper should have done better. It would now take a miracle for Aberdeen to remain in this season's Scottish Cup. Jones easily cleared a Maguire corner on the hour mark as nothing was now working for the Dons. Miller replaced Lovell in the 56th minute and Dan Smith replaced Severin in the 70th minute. In between Lee Miller was booked for a nothing challenge on Hogg.

Aberdeen should have pulled one back in the 74th minute when McNeil blocked a Nicholson shot and Clark scooped the loose ball over the bar. Two minutes later Nicholson won a free kick on the edge of the box and McCann should have seen yellow for a poor challenge. The resulting free kick was deflected for a corner despite the fact that a Hibs player broke early from the wall. Aberdeen won a second corner but their luck by now had completely deserted them and the final whistle couldn't come soon enough. Deep in injury time a Clark effort was deflected wide and a Nicholson effort was scrambled clear.

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Match Stats:

		Hibs	Dons
Goal Attempts		17	16
On Target		11	8
Corners		7	8
Possession		49%	51%

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