Hibernian comfortably booked a place in the League Cup semi‑finals after dispatching Ross County with a decisive 3‑0 win at the Inverness‑based venue in Dingwall. The match evoked memories of Hibs' earlier cup triumphs – the 2010 victory and the memorable 2016 final – but this time the Highland crowd could not celebrate a similar outcome for their side. The game burst into life within the first quarter‑hour, as Thibault Klidje and Adam Mayor each found the net before the 15‑minute mark, giving David Gray’s men a firm grip on the proceedings. Klidje opened the scoring in the seventh minute, rising above the County defence to head a cross into the bottom corner.
Seven minutes later, a penalty was awarded after Akil Wright was judged to have pulled down Jason Kerr from a corner taken by Felix Passlack. Mayor stepped up and calmly slotted the spot‑kick, extending the lead to 2‑0. The visitors continued to press, and six minutes before the interval Ante Suto added a third, effectively sealing the tie.
Suto’s goal came after a well‑worked move between midfielders Josh Mulligan and Callum Wright, who combined to create a space for the forward to meet a low cross from Jack Iredale and finish past the goalkeeper. Although Ross County fought back with some spirited attempts – Iredale’s header that forced a good save from Brad Foster, and a near‑miss from Suto when his header sailed over the bar – they never truly threatened to overturn the deficit.
In the second half County attempted to alter their shape, switching to a back‑three formation in hopes of tightening up at the rear. Nevertheless, Hibernian retained the initiative, delivering dangerous crosses that continued to test the home side’s defence. Mayor, who had already scored from the penalty spot, tried to add a fourth by finding Nathan Lowe with a well‑timed cross in the 75th minute, but his effort drifted wide of the target. As the clock wound down, Ross County could not produce a late consolation goal, and Hibs saw out the final minutes with composure, confirming their progression to the next round.
Meanwhile, Aberdeen also celebrated a dramatic passage to the Premier Sports Cup semi‑finals, albeit via a penalty shoot‑out against Kilmarnock. Manager Stephen Robinson had been under pressure after four league matches without scoring, and the cup tie offered a chance to reverse that trend.
The match was tightly contested; after Kevin Nisbet gave the Dons the lead with a header from a Connor Ronan cross, Kilmarnock equalised through Tyreece John‑Jules following the dismissal of Aberdeen defender Daniel Happe. The red card left Aberdeen with ten men, and the game stretched into extra time.
Both sides created several opportunities during the extra period, but neither could find a decisive goal, leading to a penalty shoot‑out. Aberdeen goalkeeper Marius Müller proved the hero, saving attempts from John‑Jules, Mark O'Hara and Aaron Tshibola. Jack Milne then stepped up to convert the decisive spot‑kick, sealing a 3‑1 shoot‑out victory for the Dons. The win sparked jubilant scenes as Aberdeen supporters poured onto the pitch to celebrate joining Hearts and Hibernian in the semi‑final lineup, while Kilmarnock fans expressed their disappointment, a result that adds further scrutiny to manager Neil McCann’s position.
In summary, Hibernian’s early dominance and clinical finishing, combined with Aberdeen’s resilience and nerve in a penalty decider, have set up an exciting semi‑final stage of the League Cup, with three Scottish clubs now vying for the trophy.