It wasn’t a thing of beauty, but a win is a win and the Dons secured their path into the Scottish League Cup semi final through penalties at Easter Road on Tuesday evening.
After the game finished 0-0 following extra-time, the Dons progressed to the last four 6-5 on penalties.
Thomas Agyepong hit the crossbar in the sudden death spot kick giving Aberdeen the victory in a difficult night in Edinburgh.
Aberdeen manager Derek McInnes was in no mood to see his side opened up. Every time Hibs reached the final third they were met by a wall of red shirts.
It worked for a while. Aberdeen were soaking up the Hibs pressure and trying to sucker-punch their hosts. Ball rattled the crossbar with a free-kick while Gary Mackay-Steven skimmed a shot wide of the post.
But Hibs eventually began to find the gaps and imposed themselves on us.
Aberdeen had lost the midfield battle for 45 minutes, but they began to find the impressive James Wilson and Mackay-Steven who, briefly, became more of a threat.
But still Hibs were having the better of the chances. Kamberi bamboozled Michael Devlin, cut onto his right foot, but shot over. Paul Hanlon fired against the goalkeeper from a free-kick, and then had Kamberi showed more composure he could have turned in Boyle’s cross when given the freedom of the Aberdeen box.
Hyndman twice was invited to shoot from the edge of the box – dragging an effort wide then testing Lewis low down with his second.
Boyle again put the ball in the net, this time ruled out for offside, then Oli Shaw raced through but his shot at glory whizzed past the far post.
Aberdeen waited until extra-time to show more purpose. May did well to flick the ball forward but the finish was lacking, as it was minutes later when Ball sent through McGinn on the right.
May then muscled his way past Efe Ambrose but shot into the hands of goalkeeper Adam Bogdan.
Porteous should have buried a header from two yards out, but instead found Andrew Considine’s shoulder instead of the net.
And Hibs were made to pay for those misses as Aberdeen did the business from the penalty spot to book a semi-final spot.
