YFS
Hibernian came from behind to defeat Aberdeen in the Scottish Youth Cup Final. Grant Murray’s men lifted the silverware after an excellent second half performance was enough to see them overcome the Dons.
Hibs began the game playing with a back five allowing their wing-backs Callum Donaldson and Sean Mackie to push very high, which seemed to work early on and it was Donaldson and Mackie who combined to produce the game’s first opportunity.
Five minutes in and Mackie broke up the left and whipped a cross into the box and from 10 yards out Donaldson’s half-volley flew wide of the post.
Aberdeen began by playing a counter-attacking style of play, designed to catch out the advanced Hibernian wing-backs and on the fifteen minute mark their tactics paid off. A long ball into the right channel got Connor McLennan into the box and he managed to beat three defenders, round the goalie and stab home from six yards to put the Dons in front.
After this early goal for the Dons, Grant Murray changed his side’s formation to try and combat Aberdeen’s counter-attacking style. He changed to a more conventional 4-4-2 and Aberdeen couldn’t cope.
With the wing-backs now transformed to full-backs, it allowed more space on the wings for the Hibernian forwards to drift into and just after the half-hour mark the Hibees were level.
Some good work in the middle of the park lead to Fraser Murray, who had hit the cross bar only moments before, being played in on the right wing. He drove forward and looked to pick out Ollie Shaw in the middle of the box, however Murray’s cross was diverted into his own goal by Joe MacPherson.
Hibs continued to press the Aberdeen defence, however they never created any clear cut chances and both sides went into the break on level terms.