Rangers 5-0 Aberdeen
Scottish Gas Women’s Scottish Cup Semi-Final
Sunday 27 April 2025
Hampden Park, Glasgow

Scorers

Rangers 5 (Jane Ross 8', 52', 84', Rio Hardy 43', Lizzie Arnot 87')

Aberdeen 0

Team news

Rangers made seven changes to their starting XI that faced Hibernian last week. Jenna Fife, Leah Eddie, Kathy Hill, Brogan Hay, Kirsty Howat, Chelsea Cornet and Camille Lafaix made way to the bench with Vic Esson, Laura Rafferty, Tess Middag, Jane Ross, Lizzie Arnot, Katie Wilkinson and May Cruft coming in.

Aberdeen named an unchanged side from the team that faced Queen’s Park last time out.

Highlights

 

As it happeneD

Rangers started the game on the front foot controlling possession in the opposition half. A few early crosses were lofted in the Aberdeen box which were defended well, but it didn’t take long until the first real chance arose as soon as three minutes in, where another cross in to the box which led to Lizzie Arnot shooting from close range but failing to hit the back of the net.

Rangers’ early dominance continued and an indirect free kick was crossed in to the area, with the ball falling to Tess Middag who had a golden opportunity, but seen her attempt fly over the bar.

It didn’t take long for the blue team from Glasgow to get their noses in front, when Kirsty McLean played a sublime ball over the top from inside her own half which sailed right through the Aberdeen defence and fell to the oncoming Mia McAuley, who squared an appetising pass inside the area to Jane Ross who couldn’t miss from just inside the five-yard box.

Coming into the half-hour mark, Jo Potter’s side controlled almost all of the possession and looked in firm control despite the narrow scoreline. A break in play due to an Aberdeen injury allowed the teams to regroup before the closing stages of the first half with Aberdeen manager, Scott Booth hoping to galvanise his side to get back into the tie.

Aberdeen attempted a few passes over the top to try in search of an equaliser, however possession was quickly regained by the Rangers defence.

Rangers came close to extending their lead when a wonderful Mia McAuley cross fell to the back post, but Lizzie Arnot failed to deliver from close range.

Potter’s side were firmly in ascendancy, finding themselves having great joy down the right flank and this time it was Arnot who found herself in this area of the pitch, delivering a cross ball which met the head of Katie Wilkinson, but it was food and drink for Aberdeen goalkeeper, Annalisa McCann.

Maddie Finnie from Aberdeen got in behind  down the right side which seen her side get out of their own half eventually after long bouts of defending, but Laura Rafferty intercepted well and this led to another dangerous ball flying over the Aberdeen backline and on to Jane Ross who played a simple pass round the Aberdeen goalkeeper which made for an easy tap in for Rio Hardy to make it 2-0.

It was clear Rangers had identified a weakness with high through balls in behind and in the closing stages of the half this occurred again, but Rio Hardy squandered a good opportunity to snatch another goal to put her side out of sight.

Jo Potter looked to freshen things up for the second half, making three changes at the break. Katie Wilkinson, Rio Hardy and Kirsty MacLean made way for the oncoming Jodie McLeary, Chelsea Cornet and Brogan Hay.

It didn’t take long for Rangers to make it 3-0 with captain Nicola Docherty aiming a lofted ball at the back post for Brogan Hay who won the knockdown inside the 18-yard box across to Jane Ross with the Rangers attacker planting a low strike in the back of the net inside the goalkeepers’ right side to take her tally up to two goals for the day.

Minutes after Docherty’s brilliant bit of creativity in the lead up to their third goal, she made way to the bench, being replaced by Leah Eddie.

Aberdeen made their first change in the hope of an impact on the 60’ minute mark when Emily Kraft replaced Niamh Noble. The Dons found themselves in some decent positions down the left side of the pitch but failed to carve up a real opportunity.

With 20 minutes to go, Lizzie Arnot aimed to turn the provider, when a whipped free kick into the box landed at the feet of Laura Rafferty, but her attempt at a back heel goal rolled in to the hands of McCann in the Aberdeen net.

Rangers remained in cruise control going into the game’s final stages while Aberdeen had still yet to register a shot on target in the full game. Emily Kraft looked like she could change that statistic, but her attempt flew high and well wide of the post.

Jane Ross earned her hattrick while sealing her sides place in the Scottish Gas Women’s Scottish Cup Final when Mia McAuley became the inventor once again, working round the Aberdeen defence forcing a save from McCann but eventually landing at the feet of Ross to tap home.

Rangers didn’t look like taking the foot off the gas which became evident in the 87th minute when Jane Ross got in behind the Aberdeen defence and cut back a simple pass which Lizzie Arnot sent past the Aberdeen goalkeeper with ease. It was nearly six for Jo Potter’s side when Mia McAuley found herself one on one with McCann but was denied by a fantastic save which seen the Dons ‘keeper parrying the ball over the bar.

Rangers were relentless in their pursuit of a cup final for the club, and they will face Glasgow City at Hampden Park on Saturday, 25 May to contest for the Scottish Gas Women’s Scottish Cup trophy.

Match Report by Declan Hughes

Early Bird Tickets

The Scottish Gas Women's Scottish Cup Final returns to Hampden Park again this May, and you can register your interest now and receive 25% tickets for the Neutral zone. Find out more here.