2023 Scottish League Cup final (December) explained

2023 Scottish League Cup Final (December)
Event:2023–24 Scottish League Cup
Team1:Rangers
Team1score:1
Team2:Aberdeen
Team2score:0
Stadium:Hampden Park
City:Glasgow
Man Of The Match1a:Dujon Sterling[1]
Attendance:49,296[2]
Previous:February 2023
Next:2024

The 2023–24 Scottish League Cup final was an association football match that took place at Hampden Park, Glasgow on 17 December 2023. It was the culmination of the 2023–24 Scottish League Cup, the 78th season of the Scottish League Cup (known as the Viaplay Cup for sponsorship reasons), a competition for the 42 teams in the Scottish Professional Football League (SPFL). It was played between Rangers and Aberdeen, meeting at this stage in the competition for the seventh time.[3]

Rangers won 1–0 through a goal by captain James Tavernier to claim the League Cup for the first time since 2011 and a record 28th time overall; Aberdeen's trophy drought since their 2014 win in the same competition continued.[2] [4]

Route to the final

See main article: 2023–24 Scottish League Cup. As both clubs participated in European competitions, they both received a bye through the 2023 - 24 Scottish League Cup group stage.

Rangers

width=80Roundwidth=160Oppositionwidth=80Score
Second roundGreenock Morton2–1 (h)
Quarter-finalLivingston4–0 (h)
Semi-finalHeart of Midlothian3–1 (n)

Aberdeen

width=80Roundwidth=160Oppositionwidth=80Score
Second roundStirling Albion2–1 (a)
Quarter-finalRoss County2–1 (a)
Semi-finalHibernian1–0 (n)

Match

Summary

In a match hampered by poor weather and numerous fouls, Aberdeen offered little offensively but Philippe Clement's Rangers struggled to make the breakthrough; they eventually went ahead in the 76th minute when captain James Tavernier scored after controlling a cross from Borna Barišić from the left with his right foot before firing to the right of the net. It was the only goal of the game as Rangers claimed a first Scottish League Cup since 2011.[5] Tavernier's goal was the defender's 14th against Aberdeen (all others coming in the Scottish Premiership),[6] tying him with Ally McCoist and Derek Johnstone as the all-time top scorer in the fixture.[7]

Details

GK1 Jack Butland
RB2 James Tavernier (c)
CB6 Connor Goldson
CB27 Leon Balogun
LB31 Borna Barišić
CM4 John Lundstram
CM21 Dujon Sterling
RW45 Ross McCausland
AM13 Todd Cantwell
LW19 Abdallah Sima
FW9 Cyriel Dessers
Substitutes:
GK28 Robby McCrorie
LB3 Ridvan Yilmaz
CB5 John Souttar
FW14 Sam Lammers
LW17 Rabbi Matondo
MF20 Kieran Dowell
RW23 Scott Wright
FW25 Kemar Roofe
DF38 Leon King
Manager:
Philippe Clement
GK1 Kelle Roos
CB6 Stefan Gartenmann
CB33 Slobodan Rubežić
CB5 Richard Jensen
RM2 Nicky Devlin
CM10 Leighton Clarkson
CM4 Graeme Shinnie (c)
LM17 Jonny Hayes
AM7 Jamie McGrath
FW9 Bojan Miovski
FW19 Ester Sokler
Substitutes:
GK31 Ross Doohan
MF8 Connor Barron
FW11 Duk
DF15 James McGarry
FW20 Shayden Morris
MF21 Dante Polvara
MF23 Ryan Duncan
DF27 Angus MacDonald
DF28 Jack Milne
Manager:
Barry Robson
Man of the Match:
Dujon Sterling (Rangers)

Assistant referees


Daniel McFarlane
Ross Macleod
Fourth official


David Munro
Video assistant referee


Andrew Dallas
Andrew McWilliam (assistant)

Match rules
  • 90 minutes
  • 30 minutes of extra time if necessary
  • Penalty shoot-out if scores still level
  • Nine named substitutes
  • Maximum of five substitutions, with a sixth allowed in extra time

See also

Notes and References

  1. https://spfl.co.uk/news/rangers-win-the-viaplay-cup Rangers win the Viaplay Cup
  2. https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/67684521 Rangers 1-0 Aberdeen: James Tavernier nets as Philippe Clement wins first silverware as Ibrox boss
  3. https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/67694058 Rangers v Aberdeen: Will old foes drum up another classic League Cup final?
  4. https://www.theguardian.com/football/2023/dec/17/rangers-aberdeen-scottish-league-cup-final-match-report Rangers edge Aberdeen in League Cup final for Philippe Clement’s first trophy
  5. Web site: Rangers 1-0 Aberdeen: James Tavernier fires Ibrox side to Scottish League Cup glory. 17 December 2023. Sky Sports. 19 December 2023.
  6. https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/67744640 Rangers win Viaplay Cup: James Tavernier drags side to win against Aberdeen
  7. https://www.fitbastats.com/rangers/player_records_overall.php?opposition=1&from=132&to=153&competition=0&venue=0&usefilter=0&usefilter=on&update=Update Player Records (Filtered) Most Goals [Filter: Vs Aberdeen] FitbaStats (Rangers). Retrieved 19 December 2023