In a commanding performance at Ibrox Stadium, Rangers secured a 3-0 victory over Aberdeen, intensifying the latter's struggles with a winless run now extending to 12 matches. Hamza Igamane opened the scoring for Rangers early on, capitalizing on an error by Aberdeen's defender Sivert Nilsen. Despite missing an earlier opportunity in the eighth minute, Igamane quickly redeemed himself. The match concluded with stoppage-time goals from Leon Balogun and Cyriel Dessers, sealing a decisive win for the home side.
Rangers entered the match determined to close the gap on Premiership leaders Celtic, though they remain 13 points behind. Their strategy was clear from the onset, as Igamane found the back of the net following a mistake by Nilsen, who allowed a throw-out from Aberdeen's goalkeeper to slip under his foot. This early lead set the tone for a match dominated by Rangers' control and strategic play.
Aberdeen attempted to fight back, with midfielder Leighton Clarkson aiming for goal in the 29th minute. However, Rangers' goalkeeper Liam Kelly made a critical save, clawing the ball back from under the bar and preserving his team's lead. Meanwhile, Rangers' Ross Doohan delivered a solid performance between the posts, further thwarting Aberdeen's efforts.
"That was so routine for Rangers tonight, if anything they just were not ruthless enough and that was partly down to poor finishing and Ross Doohan had a decent game in goal." – Chris Sutton
As the match progressed, Rangers continued to apply pressure. Nedim Bajrami replaced Danilo at the start of the second half, adding fresh energy to the lineup. In the 55th minute, Ianis Hagi came close to extending Rangers' lead, skimming the bar with a powerful 25-yard drive.
Despite their best efforts, Aberdeen struggled to find their footing. The team displayed a lack of intensity and focus, a sentiment echoed by observers.
"Aberdeen were sloppy all night and there's a passiveness to their play right now." – Kris Boyd
In the closing moments of the match, Balogun and Dessers secured Rangers' victory with two goals during stoppage time. These final strikes underscored Rangers' dominance throughout the game and left Aberdeen searching for answers.
Aberdeen's manager Jimmy Thelin expressed disappointment in his team's performance, noting that Rangers' win was not due to brilliance but rather Aberdeen's inability to challenge them effectively.
"Rangers didn't have to be brilliant tonight. As a team there was no energy, we didn't go toe to toe with them and they were passive. It's disappointing to watch." – Andrew Considine
The match also saw the debut of Aberdeen's new signings Alfie Dorrington and Alexander Jensen. While their addition brought anticipation, it did little to change the outcome as Aberdeen's woes continued at Ibrox.
Rangers' manager Philippe Clement commented on his team's performance, emphasizing their control over the match.
"It was almost full domination of the game. That's what we've been working towards for months. We've done that in moments but not enough." – Philippe Clement
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