Dundee were beaten 3-0 by Aberdeen in the Premier Sports Cup 2nd round tie at Pittodrie this afternoon. After an even first half the Dons settled the match with three quick goals early in the second half. Kevin Nisbet scored twice and Mitchy Ntelo scored on his debut. Dundee kept going, but Aberdeen had no trouble seeing the match out for a deserved win. A disappointing afternoon was made even worse by a serious injury to Simon Murray, who was carried off on a stretcher in the first half.
The Dark Blues fielded an unchanged line-up for the third match running. The only change on the bench was Ashton Leiper replacing the injured Ashley Hay.
Dundee started brightly, testing the Aberdeen defence without creating any real danger at fist. Aberdeen worked their wawy into the match and started to show more drive and purpose than in last week’s league game. Afeez Aremu had the first shot, a fierce effort from 25 yards that Owen Goodman held confidently.
Goodman did well to block Toyosi Olusanya’s close range shot from a tight angle after the wide player burst clear on the left.
Dundee looked good in open play but it was the Dons who had better chances in the first 20 minutes. Happe got free beyond the far post at a corner but headed wide. Olusanya wasted a great chance when he ran clear after referee Nick Walsh decided he hadn’t tripped Owen Bevan to win the ball. Again Goodman saved.
Charlie Reilly’s long pass sent Simon Murray clear but, under pressure from the chasing defenders, he stumbled and lost control as he ran into the penalty area. That was Murray’s last involvement in the game. A minute later he landed awkwardly and looked to have damaged his knee. After lengthy treatment he was carried off on a stretcher. Fin Robertson replaced him and took up the number 10 role with Joe Westley playing as the striker.
There were a few more worrying minutes for the Dark Blues when Joe Bevan took an accidental face knock. Fortunately he was able to resume after treatment.
The seven minutes of added time brought frantic action at either end of the park. Dundee passed up two good chances, either of which would have changed the game if they had been taken. Bevan ran clear onto a long ball over the top but Marius Müller made a fine save and then Westley headed narrowely wide from a cross by Robertson. Aberdeen had a spell of frantic pressure in which Goodman had to make a fine save from a ferocious shot by Aremu from 22 yards.
The first half had been even, with Dundee very much in the game. The second half was a different story and the Dark Blues never really got their attacking game going. The game was settled in the first 18 minutes after the restart.
Aberdeen took the lead six minutes into the second half. Joe Bevan was off the park having taken a minor head knock and Aberdeen took advantage of the resulting space on the Dee right to launch an attack. When the cross came over Chris Cadden’s shot was blocked, with the rebound falling to Olusanya whose follow up was well saved on the goal line by Goodman. However, the ball broke to Kevin NISBET who had no problem shooting home from six yards.
Six minutes later Aberdeen launched a fast attack down their right. Olusanya sent Mitchy NTELO into the penalty area and he spun to open up the goal and planted a fine finish into the top corner.
After another six minutes it was 3-0 and game over. Tony Yogane sent over a low cross from the left. Ntelo flicked the ball on and NISBET fired into the roof of the net from 12 yards.
Alan Forrest and Zan Besir came on for Joe Bevan and Charlie Reilly midway through the half. The Dark Blues kept plugging away but the game was gone by then.
From then on Dundee kept their heads up and worked hard to try and salvage something from the game. However, the goals gave Aberdeen a huge boost and with the three goal cushion they could sit back and hit Dundee on the break. Lewis Smith fired an 18 yard shot straight at Goodman, and Stuart Armstrong turned smartly to shoot against the post.
Ryan Finnigan’s 20 yard shot was well saved by Müller and Ethan Hamilton fired narrowly over the bar after Aberdeen couldn’t clear a corner. That was as much as Dundee could offer in attack.
After last week this was a disappointing defeat. The first half gave no indication of what was to follow. The hard lesson for the Dee is that they have to take chances like they passed up in the first half. The first goal was crucial today and Aberdeen always looked like winners after they scored. Their players settled down and grew in confidence with the crowd behind them. The Dons unquestionably deserved their win for the way they killed off the game early in the second half.
Aberdeen 4-4-2
Müller
Cadden, Mayo, Happe, Guiness-Walker
Olusanya, Aremu (Marshall 87), Ronan (Briedl 66), Yogane (Smith 77)
Ntelo (Armstrong 66), Nisbet (Mouloua 77)
Unused subs: Suman (gk), Molloy, Milne, Fasanya.
Goals: Nisbet (51, 63), Ntelo 63).
Booked: Olusanya (dissent), Happe (foul on Westley).
Dundee FC 4-2-3-1
Owen Goodman
Drey Wright, Ryan Astley, Owen Bevan, Idris Odutayo
Ryan Finnigan, Ethan Hamilton
Joe Bevan (Alan Forest 69), Joe Westley, Charlie Reilly (Zan Besir 69)
Simon Murray (c) (Fin Robertson 30)
Unused substitutes: Kieran O’Hara (gk), Brad Halliday, Charley Oosenbrugh, Ethan Crombie, Ryan Bland, Ashton Leiper.
Booked: none.
Attendance: 10,618.
Referee: Referee: Nick Walsh. Assistants: Frank Connor, Daniel McFarlane. VAR: Grant Irvine. Assistant VAR: Gary Hilland. 4th Official: Jamie Wilkie.
Report: James Christie.
