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' previous cup triumphs, notably their 2010 victory and the dramatic 2016 final, but this time the Highland side could not replicate those celebrations. Early pressure paid off for the visitors, as Thibault Klidje and Adam Mayor each found the net within the first 14 minutes, giving David Gray's team a firm grip on the encounter. A further strike from Ante Suto six minutes before the interval effectively sealed the result, leaving Ross County with little chance of a comeback.
The opening exchanges were lively, with both teams probing each other’s defenses, but it was Hibernian who drew first blood in the seventh minute. Klidje rose above the County crowd to meet a cross and directed a powerful header into the bottom corner, giving the visitors an early lead. Just seven minutes later, the referee awarded a penalty after Akil Wright was judged to have pulled down Jason Kerr from a corner delivered by Felix Passlack. Full‑back Adam Mayor stepped up confidently and slotted the spot‑kick home, extending the lead to 2-0.
The third goal arrived before the break, the product of a well‑crafted move in midfield. Josh Mulligan and Callum Wright combined with quick, incisive passing, creating space for Ante Suto to arrive at the edge of the box.
He met a low cross from Jack Iredale, rose to meet it with a header, and, after a brief moment of suspense as the ball skimmed over the bar, he finally directed it past the keeper to make it 3-0. Although Ross County attempted to respond after the interval, even switching to a three‑man defensive line, they never generated enough quality chances to threaten Hibs seriously.
A late opportunity for County came when Nathan Lowe found himself on the end of a cross, but the subsequent shot from the Hibs substitute went wide. In the second half, Ross County’s attempts to turn the tide were limited to a few set‑piece deliveries, with Jason Kerr heading over from a corner and the team struggling to break the organized Hibernian defense.
Brad Foster, the Hibs goalkeeper, made a couple of sharp saves, notably diving to his left to deny a low effort from Iredale. As the clock wound down, the visitors maintained control, saw out the final minutes without further incident, and secured their place in the semi‑finals.
Meanwhile, Aberdeen also celebrated a dramatic passage to the Premier Sports Cup semi‑finals, albeit via a penalty shoot‑out victory over Kilmarnock after a tense extra‑time period. The Dons entered the match under pressure, having failed to score in their previous four league fixtures, and a red card for Daniel Happe threatened to make matters worse. Kilmarnock’s Tyreece John‑Jules equalised after Kevin Nisbet had opened the scoring, sending the contest into extra time. Aberdeen created several opportunities to settle the match in regulation, but were unable to find a decisive goal.
During the shoot‑out, Aberdeen goalkeeper Marius Müller proved the hero, denying attempts from John‑Jules, Mark O’Hara and Aaron Tshibola. Jack Milne then stepped up and calmly converted the decisive penalty, giving the Dons a 3‑1 win in the shoot‑out.
The victory sparked jubilant scenes as Aberdeen supporters flooded the pitch, joining Hearts and Hibernian as the three clubs that would contest the semi‑final stage. Kilmarnock fans, on the other hand, expressed disappointment, aware that the defeat added further scrutiny to manager Neil McCann’s position. Kevin Nisbet’s early goal had come from a well‑timed header on a cross delivered by Connor Ronan, which slipped past Kilmarnock keeper Max Stryjek.
After Happe’s dismissal, John‑Jules levelled the score, forcing the match into the dramatic conclusion that ultimately saw Aberdeen progress. Both semi‑finalists now look ahead to the next round, where they will face the winners of the other quarter‑final ties.
Hibernian will aim to build on their clinical performance, while Aberdeen will hope to translate their penalty‑shootout resilience into a strong showing in the upcoming fixture. The competition remains wide open, with several Scottish clubs still in contention for the coveted trophy.