Hibernian comfortably booked a place in the League Cup semi-finals after a dominant 3-0 triumph over Ross County on the far north of Scotland at Dingwall. The fixture evoked memories of Hibs' earlier cup successes in 2010 and the dramatic 2016 final, but this time the Highland side could not replicate those glories. Early pressure paid off, as Thibault Klidje opened the scoring within the first seven minutes, rising above the Ross County defence to head the ball into the lower corner of the net. Just seven minutes later, the visitors were awarded a penalty when Akil Wright was judged to have pulled down Jason Kerr from a corner delivered by Felix Passlack.
Full‑back Adam Mayor stepped up and calmly slotted the spot‑kick, giving Hibernian a two‑goal cushion before the half‑hour mark. The dominance continued in the first half when Ante Suto added a third goal six minutes before the break, sealing the tie and leaving the Staggies with little hope of a comeback. Although Ross County never looked completely out of the contest, they failed to generate sustained pressure and could not threaten Hibs' lead.
The opening stages of the match were lively, with both teams exchanging attacks, but the visitors’ quality shone through. After Klidje’s early header, the penalty conversion by Mayor seemed to deflate the home side’s momentum. A brief moment of danger came when Suto rose to meet a low cross from Jack Iredale, but his header drifted just over the bar, and Iredale later forced a solid save from Hibs goalkeeper Brad Foster, who dove to his left. The third goal was the result of clever interplay between midfielders Josh Mulligan and Callum Wright, who combined in the centre of the park before Suto finished the move with a well‑placed finish.
In the second half Ross County attempted to alter their tactics, switching to a back‑three formation in an effort to tighten the defence, yet Hibernian continued to create the better chances. A further set‑piece saw Jason Kerr head the ball over the bar, and later, with just under fifteen minutes left, Mayor delivered a cross to Nathan Lowe, whose shot went wide.
The final minutes saw Hibernian maintain control, seeing out the match without allowing any late consolation for the home fans. Their composure ensured a three‑goal margin at the final whistle, confirming their progression to the semi‑final stage of the competition.
In a separate quarter‑final, Aberdeen also advanced after a dramatic penalty shoot‑out victory over Kilmarnock. Aberdeen manager Stephen Robinson had been under pressure following four league games without scoring, and the cup tie offered a chance to relieve that tension. The match turned tense when Daniel Happe received a red card, reducing the Dons to ten men. Despite being a man down, Aberdeen held on as Kilmarnock’s Tyreece John‑Jules equalised after Kevin Nisbet had given the Dons the lead with a header from a Connor Ronan cross that beat Kilmarnock keeper Max Stryjek.
The game proceeded to extra time, where both sides created opportunities but failed to find a decisive goal. The deadlock was finally broken by a penalty shoot‑out.
Aberdeen goalkeeper Marius Müller proved decisive, making saves against John‑Jules, Mark O'Hara and Aaron Tshibola. Jack Milne then stepped up to convert the final penalty, securing a 3‑1 shoot‑out win for the Dons. The victory sparked jubilant celebrations as Aberdeen supporters flooded the pitch, joining Hearts and Hibernian in the semi‑final lineup, while Kilmarnock fans expressed frustration, intensifying the scrutiny on their manager Neil McCann. Both Hibernian and Aberdeen will now look ahead to their semi‑final fixtures, hoping to continue their cup runs.
Hibs will aim to build on their clinical finishing and defensive solidity, while Aberdeen will rely on their resilience and penalty‑shootout composure to push further. The upcoming semi‑finals promise high‑stakes football, with the prospect of a final showdown between two of Scotland’s most storied clubs. The League Cup remains an open competition, and the performances displayed by both teams in the quarter‑finals underline the unpredictable nature of knockout football, where a single moment—whether a header, a penalty, or a save—can determine the fate of a club’s season.