Naderi scores late as Rangers beat Aberdeen to reach League Cup final

Ryan Naderi scored in the 83rd minute as Rangers beat Aberdeen 1-0 at Hampden Park on Saturday to reach the Premier Sports Cup final. PA Media, reporting through STV News, said the striker redirected James Penrice's effort for his eighth goal of the season after Aberdeen had frustrated Rangers for much of the semi-final.

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The Scottish Professional Football League confirmed that Derek McInnes's team will play either Heart of Midlothian or Hibernian in the final on Sunday, December 13. The Edinburgh clubs meet in the other semi-final on Sunday afternoon, leaving Rangers waiting to learn which opponent they will face for the trophy.

Aberdeen's own match report detailed four changes from the team beaten by Falkirk in midweek, with Dan Happe suspended and Chris Cadden injured. Nicky Devlin, Connor Ronan, Emmanuel Gyamfi and Jack Milne came into the side. Another adjustment followed early on when Gyamfi was injured and Stuart Armstrong replaced him, with Brad Lyons moving to wing-back.

The first half ended goalless. Nesta Guinness-Walker tested Rangers goalkeeper Ivor Pandur after advancing from halfway, while Aberdeen captain Kevin Nisbet sent a header wide. At the other end, Marius Muller made a low save shortly before the interval and Naderi headed onto the roof of the net as Rangers sought an opening.

Rangers increased the pressure after the restart. Muller saved from Minsu before Kevin Kelsy headed wide from close range, and the Aberdeen goalkeeper later parried a Nico Raskin shot. Aberdeen still threatened on the break, with Nisbet seeing an effort deflected wide before sending another chance over the bar from the resulting corner.

Naderi's finish finally separated the teams with seven minutes of normal time remaining, turning Rangers' second-half pressure into the decisive goal. PA Media reported that Aberdeen had allowed only one Rangers shot on target before half-time. There was still a late scare for the finalists: according to Aberdeen's report, Armstrong curled a stoppage-time effort just wide.