Lawrence Shankland’s penalty proved decisive as Rangers secured a 1-0 win at Aberdeen, their first Scottish Premiership win of the season, after the home side were denied a late equaliser by VAR at Pittodrie.
The Gers skipper fired his penalty into the top corner, stepping up after Djeidi Gassama was brought down in the penalty area by Daniel Happe deep into the second half.
Aberdeen thought they had found an equaliser when in-form Kevin Nisbet headed home what would have been his 10th goal of the season. However, a VAR check ruled the striker, who also appeared to be in an offside position, had pushed Dujon Sterling.
Rangers had the best chance of the game before taking the lead, with Afeez Aremu producing a huge goal-line clearance in the 38th minute.
Gassama powered forward on a brilliant counter before Kim tried to dink the ball beyond Muller, only for the Aberdeen goalkeeper to take enough pace off the effort for Aremu to race back and clear it off the line.
It had been a bruising week for Rangers, who saw their European campaign come to an abrupt end after defeat on penalties to Jablonec in midweek. With just one point from their opening two Scottish Premiership games, the pressure had been building on Derek McInnes.
The new Rangers boss desperately needed a response at Pittodrie and, despite another testing afternoon, his side delivered it against his former employers.
More to follow…
Lawrence Shankland converted from the spot as Rangers finally broke the deadlock against Aberdeen in the second half.
The key moments from Pittodrie Stadium
2: CLOSE! Big chance for Aberdeen early on. Ronan’s set piece is inviting and finds Happe at the back post, who tries to guide it in but knocks it over the bar from close range.
38: AREMU CLEARS ONE OFF THE LINE! Wow. Gassama gallops up from one end of the pitch. He’s the whole counter-attacking move as he brings in Kim to his right. He attempts to dink it to Shankland so he has a tap-in, but Aremu gets back in the nick of time to clear.
68: PENALTY TO RANGERS! Happe brings down Gassama. It’s a stonewaller.
69: GOAL! SHANKLAND FIRES RIGHT INTO THE TOP CORNER. WHAT A PEN. MULLER HAD NO CHANCE!
81: ABERDEEN WANT A PENALTY! It will be checked… Nisbet goes down under pressure from Sterling as a ball in hurtles towards the back post.
83: GOAL! NISBET DAGGER! He heads in after a couple of Pandur saves but this is going to be checked by VAR.
86: NO GOAL! Nisbet had both hands on Sterling as he gained leverage to head home the equaliser. After an on-field review, the goal does not stand.
