Aberdeen and Rangers will meet again at Ibrox on Tuesday, March 12 after their Scottish Cup quarter-final ended in a 1-1 draw at Pittodrie.
The Dons bounced back from their disappointing midweek defeat to Hamilton with a committed and much-improved display. They had chances to win the game at Pittodrie but had to share the spoils as a trip to Ibrox next week beckons.
⚽ FT and it's finished all square!#ScottishCup pic.twitter.com/ZbmRuEImS6
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Dons boss Derek McInnes made one change from the side which lost 2-0 at home to Hamilton on Wednesday with fit-again Gary Mackay-Steven recovering from the knock which kept out of the Accies game. He replaced Niall McGinn, who dropped to the bench.
Max Lowe handed Aberdeen a boost after recovering from the knee injury which forced him off in midweek to take his place in the starting 11.
Rangers manager Steven Gerrard named the same team which beat Dundee 4-0 at Ibrox on Wednesday.
Aberdeen made a bright start against the Gers and their high-tempo approach paid an early dividend as the Dons swept into an early lead.
Lowe and Mackay-Steven linked up down the left with the Dons defender’s pass sending Mackay-Steven racing into the box and he was clipped by Gers defender Connor Goldson to concede a penalty.
? @Sports_EmmaD talks to Sam Cosgrove and MOTM Scott McKenna!#ScottishCup pic.twitter.com/W37Rm4bnr3
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Sam Cosgrove stepped up to fire the spot kick past Allan McGregor.
It was just the start Aberdeen needed and they were unlucky not to double their lead before the break as Scott McKenna saw a header tipped over the crossbar before a Cosgrove, Graeme Shinnie and substitute McGinn all had chances as Rangers struggled to clear the danger under intense pressure from the home side.
The Dons were well worth their lead but poor defending gifted the visitors an equaliser at the start of the second half as Ryan Kent’s corner, conceded needlessly by Greg Stewart, was volleyed past Joe Lewis from the unmarked Joe Worrall from inside the six-yard box.
Aberdeen could have won it when Andy Considine saw his shot parried by McGregor but Ryan Kent managed to block McKenna’s attempt to convert the rebound.