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matches

Rangers 1 - 1 Aberdeen

HT Score: Rangers 0 - 0 Aberdeen

SPL
Rangers scorers: Boyd 51
Aberdeen scorers: Severin 68.

15/04/2006 | KO: 15:00

Dons fight back for deserved point

Aberdeen maintained their unbeaten record against Rangers this season but narrowly failed to achieve their first win at Ibrox since 1991. Aberdeen created a couple of decent chances in a first half dominated by the home side. After the break Aberdeen made a whirlwind start and Dempsey crashed the ball off the crossbar in the 48th minute before losing a goal against the run of play three minutes later. This Aberdeen team didn't fold however and Severin, for the second week running, produced a goal in the 68th minute. Aberdeen should have added a second goal five minutes later but Smith put his effort over the bar. In an exciting finish both sides had chances but the game ended level as the Dons gained ground on next weeks opponents, Kilmarnock.

The game got underway with the small Aberdeen section a sea of red and white as the Dons support made their presence known inside the Ibrox cauldron. It was a fairly low-key start to the match but Rangers won the first corner of the game in the 3rd minute courtesy of Barry Ferguson. The Dons defence easily cleared the danger, as the home side were guilty of some nervous play in the opening minutes. Rangers then won a second corner after seven minutes but once again the Dons defence coped well as Rangers continued to dominate the opening exchanges. Dempsey was penalised for what looked a hard but fair challenge, which resulted in a third corner for the Ibrox men.

Aberdeen finally won their first corner in the 13th minute when a McNaughton throw in caused all sorts of problems. The resulting set play almost produced the opening goal when Jamie Smith's delivery was met by Diamond and the keeper appeared to know little about the header despite keeping the ball out of the net. Four minutes later Ferguson intercepted a poor pass and set up Boyd who forced a save from Langfield. At this stage Mr. McCurry appeared to penalise every challenge by an Aberdeen player but they threatened once again in the 20th minute when Dempsey ghosted forward and fired in a first time volley that scraped the post with the keeper beaten.

Snoyl showed his pace and skill in the 22nd minute as he went on a powerful run and swung in a dangerous cross that failed to fall to one of his colleagues. A minute later Rangers threatened as Prso went for a high ball but Langfield managed to put him off and concede a corner as Diamond was forced to leave the field before the corner was taken. The set play almost produced the opener as Langfield made a great stop from Burke as the ten men struggled to hold out. Prso was then lucky to avoid a yellow card as he took McNaughton cynically out of the play as the Dons went to break. The diminutive Jamie Smith was then penalised on the half hour mark for being too physical with Rangers central defender Kyrgiakos.

A minute later Rangers went close when full back Smith made a great run and Hemdani ballooned his shot well over the bar. Boyd was caught offside in the 34th minute just as he was making a dramatic tumble inside the box, much to the annoyance of the home support. Langfield was the hero again in the 39th minute when he turned a Prso looping header over the bar. Aberdeen then had to face a series of corners as the home side laid siege to the Aberdeen goal in the closing minutes. Fortunately the Dons were able to hold out and defend the onslaught successfully.

Aberdeen made a whirlwind start to the second half and won their second corner of the match in the opening minute. Smith's corner was met by Severin but he couldn't steer it on target. Two minutes later Lovell went on a great run and set up Dempsey who fired a wicked shot off the woodwork from 18 yards with the keeper well beaten. Another chance was carved out in the 49th minute when Diamond headed a Smith free kick across the face of the goal, but the home defence scrambled the ball clear.

After the terrific start it was Rangers who grabbed the lead in the 51st minute against the run of play. Boyd was the scorer even though Langfield got a hand to the ball. Rangers took heart from the opening goal and once again gained the upper hand in the game and almost added a second in the 56th minute when a Prso shot was steered over by Boyd. Aberdeen had regained their composure again and were once again asking questions of the Rangers back four and won a dangerous free kick in the 64th minute, which produced some sustained pressure from the visitor's.

Aberdeen looked to be building a real scoring chance in the 67th minute when referee McCurry failed to play an advantage and stopped the game to book Kyrgiakos. Justice was done however as Severin's deflected shot from the free kick flew past Wattereus for a deserved equaliser. Aberdeen should have added a second goal in the 73rd minute when Dempsey released Foster and the youngster cut the ball back to Smith who managed to miss the target with the keeper out of position. The game was now raging from end to end as both teams looked to find a winner.

In the 77th minute Clark probed forward but his colleagues missed his cross as Rangers reshuffled their pack with Murray and Novo entering the fray. Diamond then defended a Rangers free kick brilliantly two minutes later before more good play produced another half chance for the Dons as Snoyl steered the ball over the top. Kyrgiakos was lucky to escape a second yellow card for deliberate handball in the 84th minute when Aberdeen looked to be in a threatening position. Then a minute later Langfield and Anderson did well to keep the home side out. Calderwood then introduced Mackie and Crawford for Lovell and Smith who had worked so hard for 88 minutes.

With news that Hearts were leading Rangers were desperate for a winner and started to bombard the Dons goal. In the final minute Langfield made a great block from Prso before Diamond booted the ball clear. Then Smith drilled the ball into McNaughton's arm and despite the appeals for a spot kick referee McCurry was not fooled. In the closing seconds Nicholson replaced Snoyl for the final three minutes of injury time. Crawford then forced his way into a scoring chance but was penalised in the process. The match ended with Langfield making another safe catch as the Dons earned a deserved point.

Rangers Teamsheet
Wattereus, Hutton (Murray 74), Rodriguez, Kyrgiakos, Smith, Burke, Hemdani (RAe 83), Ferguson, Buffel (Novo 77), Prso, Boyd

Bookings:  Kyrgiakos 67
Watch Highlights
Attendance: 48,987
Venue: Ibrox Stadium, Glasgow
Referee: Michael McCurry, Glasgow
The two captains battle for the ball at Ibrox today.
1/10
Foster in action at Ibrox this afternoon.
2/10
Kevin McNaughton beats Prso to the ball at Ibrox.
3/10
Ferne Snoyl in action this afternoon.
4/10
Dempsey challenges Ferguson this afternoon.
5/10
Anderson can't get back as Boyd opens the scoring.
6/10
Anderson and Prso battle for the ball at Ibrox.
7/10
Diamond celebrates as Severin's shot finds the net.
8/10
Severin celebrates his goal at Ibrox.
9/10
Lovell and Dempsey keep a close eye on Ferguson.
10/10