Aberdeen 2 - 3 Rangers

Rangers got the game underway as Aberdeen adopted a positive 4-3-3 formation. The Dons had the first chance when Zdrilic was brought down 30 yards out, but Steve Tosh sent the free kick straight into the hands of Stefan Klos. Rangers carved out a half chance in the 6th minute when Nerlinger had a glimpse of goal, but was closed down before he could do any damage. Seconds later Mackie had the chance to deliver a telling cross but sent his effort out of play. Barry Ferguson went closest in the opening spell when he sent a free kick inches over the cross bar.

The teams had been fairly evenly matched in the opening 15 minutes although neither keeper had been really tested. Mols however was causing problems, but fortunately his final ball had yet to find a colleague. Aberdeen created their best move in the 18th minute when McQuilken was released on the left and, beating the full back, whipped in a cross which Booth steered on target. The header was too close to Klos and the keeper had an easy catch.

Rangers were forced into a change in the 33rd minute when Lovenkrands was carried off after twisting his knee. Steven Thompson replaced him. Within five minutes Rangers had levelled after Mols went to ground easily about 30 yards out. Ball crashed the free kick off the woodwork and de Boer netted the rebound despite Scott Booth's attempts to keep the ball out. Worse was to follow when Rangers grabbed a second three minutes before the break. Aberdeen failed to clear their lines and Mols set up Arteta who fired the ball past Preece.

After being totally in control the lead had been lost in the space of four minutes. There was an explosive end to the half when a huge melee kicked off before Michael Ball and McGuire were booked. Initially Russell Anderson had been shown the yellow card in a case of mistaken identity, but referee McCurry changed his mind and the card was rescinded.

David Zdrilic almost grabbed a lifeline for the Dons in the 62nd minute when his header crashed off the cross bar after he outjumped the Rangers defence. Minutes later Klos had an easy save from an Anderson header. Zdrilic went close again in the 71st minute when he fired a shot inches wide with Klos struggling to get across his goal. The game had lost its edge now and the second period was a shadow of what had been on show in the first half. Preece was still showing that he is turning into a fine keeper with yet another superb save to deny Thompson in the 81st minute.

Booth had another chance to pull one back in the 86th minute when he was first to reach a Clark cross. Unfortunately the ball was too high and the effort went tamely over. The Dons threw themselves a lifeline in the final minute when Deloumeaux pulled one back. Zdrilic had watched in agony as his effort was cleared off the line, but Deloumeaux returned the ball with interest and the stand side linesman declared the ball had crossed the line despite a second effort to clear. The Dons had a couple of half chances to secure a draw, but were unable to take them.