Aberdeen powered their way into the last eight of the Tennent's Scottish Cup
with a superb display against a Livingston side they had already failed to beat
in two attempts at Pittodrie this season.
The Dons started the game in determined fashion and were rewarded when they
broke the deadlock inside five minutes.
Cato Guntveit sent in a dangerous ball from the right, which was left for
Robbie Winters by Eugene Dadi. The Dons top scorer made no mistake with a crisp
left-foot shot from the edge of the box for his 11th of the season.
Roberto Bisconti and Winters both went close for Aberdeen before Dons keeper
Peter Kjaer was called into action for the first time, saving well from Steve
Tosh.
A mistake from Kevin McNaughton allowed Quino to get in a shot but again Kjaer
was equal to the task.
The Dons doubled their advantage in the 17th minute when they were awarded a
free-kick on the edge of the box when McNaughton was brought down.
Jamie McAllister spotted a gap to Nicky Culkin's right and his sweetly struck
shot gave the on-loan keeper no chance whatsoever.
The home team were threatening to run riot at this point and Bisconti tried
his luck from 25 yards with a shot that went past the post.
Every challenge on the park seemed to be won by a player in a red shirt and
the Dons completely dominated proceedings.
Darren Young came close in 38 minutes when he shot wide after good work from
Winters and brother Derek, who dispossessed Bollan.
The half ended with Livingston still looking a very poor second best and the
home team received a tremendous ovation from the fans as they left the field.
The visitors had to make changes and Hart was replaced by Dario Aurellio at
the start of the second half.
But the new man wasted a great opportunity just two minutes after his arrival
when he shot weakly in to Kjaer's arms after breaking the home team's offside
trap. Livingston were much improved at this stage and Bollan wasted a free-kick
with a poor effort from the edge of the box.
Aberdeen quickly regained the initiative however and Bisconti beat three
Livingston players on the left but sent his shot weakly pass the post.
With 12 minutes remaining, Winters should have put the game well beyond
Livingston, but he chose to pass to Mackie, who was in an offside position,
instead of shooting himself.
Darren Young waltzed through the Livingston defence shortly afterwards, but
effort from 15-yards was beaten away by Culkin. A minute later Winters should
have done better when he shot wide from inside the area.
Winters was replaced by Ben Thornley as the game entered its closing stages,
Dons boss Ebbe Skovdahl seeking to consolidate their place in quarter-finals.
Livingston battled gamely to the final whistle but for suffered a rare
disappointment as the Dons completed a deserved win.
Teams:
Aberdeen: Kjaer, McNaughton, McGuire, Whyte, McAllister,
Guntveit, Darren Young, Bisconti, Winters (Thornley 86),
Derek Young, Dadi (Mackie 76).
Subs Not Used: Esson, Solberg, Tiernan.
Goals: Winters 6, McAllister 18.
Livingston: Culkin, Brinquin (Lowndes 67), Anderson, Rubio,
Bollan, Tosh, Quino, Hart (Aurellio 45), Bingham, Fernandez,
Wilson.
Subs Not Used: McEwan, Makel, Santini.
Booked: Quino, Rubio, Bollan, Brinquin, Wilson, Bingham.
Att: 10,261
Ref: J Underhill (Scotland).
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