aberdeen vs motherwell: Shinnie strike seals 2-0 win in three-red-card Pittodrie thriller
Aberdeen advanced to the Scottish Cup quarter-finals with a 2-0 victory over nine-man Motherwell at Pittodrie, a match defined by three red cards and a stunning long-range finish from captain Graeme Shinnie. The Dons converted an early advantage into a decisive second-half strike to secure progression.
Early dismissal hands Aberdeen the initiative and Nisbet converts from the free-kick
The fixture exploded into life almost immediately when Motherwell goalkeeper Matty Connelly misplaced a pass inside two minutes. Lyall Cameron latched onto the loose ball and, as he slipped while tracking back, Oscar Priestman brought him down in the box. The referee showed a red card and Kevin Nisbet stroked the resulting free-kick into the bottom corner to put Aberdeen ahead inside five minutes.
Connelly recovered to produce several fine saves thereafter, keeping his side in the contest despite the numerical disadvantage. Motherwell then suffered a further blow when Dennis Geiger was sent off before half-time after a VAR review found a studs-up challenge on an opponent’s midriff. The German midfielder’s dismissal restored numerical parity briefly but left Motherwell with mounting discipline problems to manage.
Second-half chaos: another red card and Shinnie’s long-range finish
The match reached breaking point early in the second half when a turnover deep inside Motherwell territory from substitute Toyosi Olusanya left Liam Gordon exposed. Initially shown a yellow, the referee reversed the decision after VAR intervention and produced the third red card of the evening, reducing Motherwell to nine men and leaving their defence effectively two‑deep.
With Motherwell stretched, Aberdeen capitalised. Mitchel Frame’s incisive run from the left created space, and captain Graeme Shinnie drilled an excellent 23-yard shot into the net in the 63rd minute for his first goal of the season. The long-range strike put the tie out of reach and sealed the quarter-final trip to Dunfermline for Aberdeen.
Motherwell continued to probe despite the uphill task. Substitutes tested the goalkeeper, and a late Maswanhise effort struck the post though it was ruled offside. Aberdeen’s keeper also had to be alert in the closing stages, but the numerical superiority and control of the midfield ensured the Dons held on for a comfortable-looking scoreline on the scoreboard.
What the result means and the road ahead
The win keeps Aberdeen’s cup defence alive and hands caretaker manager a morale-boosting result after a recent league setback. The clean sheet and Shinnie’s leadership provide positives to build on as the Dons steer their season forward.
For Motherwell, the game will be viewed as a missed opportunity and an example of costly indiscipline. Having been reduced first to 10 and then to nine men, their path to a potential European place now depends largely on league form rather than a cup run. The suspension list following three sendings-off will also present selection challenges for the manager in the immediate fixtures ahead.
Ultimately, the fixture will be remembered for the dramatic oscillations of momentum: a gifted early free-kick, a VAR-influenced string of dismissals, and a captain’s reply from distance that closed the tie. Aberdeen progress, Motherwell must regroup.
