Bojan Miovski turns Aberdeen firecracker on Hibs night of VAR anger and Dons rope a dope glory - big match verdict

A handful of pyro pests couldn’t resist defying the organisers’ pleas as they pulled out the fireworks 24 hours early.

And for Aberdeen and Jack MacKenzie it looked for all the world one moment of red mist in the second half was to prove far more costly. But step forward the Dons’ own firecracker as Bojan Miovski dug his team-mate out the fire and left Hibs’ cup final hopes up in flames. Who needs pyro when you have VAR anyway?

The good old video assistants – after a damp squib of an opening 45 minutes – lit the fuse on an explosive second. Sparks were flying when Martin Boyle, the hat-trick hero of Hibs’ last League Cup semi final run out, was denied an opener after a three-minute check. If that sent a rocket up Nick Montgomery then a strong shout for a spot-kick two minutes later when Dylan Vente went down under a Kello Roos challenge sent him into orbit.

But when the smoke settles Hibs will wonder how they weren’t out of sight before Miovski’s screamer. This cracker was always going to come down to whose top men sparkled when it mattered. And it was Miovski, with his only real chance of the game, who ensured it’s the Dons that will be scorching a route back to Hampden. MacKenzie will be the most relieved man in that Dons dressing room after losing the head with 15 minutes to go.

Barry Robson revealed in the build-up he’d had to shell out for the biggest celebratory carry-out known to man after the Dons lifted this cup 10 seasons ago. He’d be toasting the class of 2023 last night as they now stand 90 minutes away from their first success since that day at Celtic Park. After the pre-match Hampden light show – the legal one – the first half failed to properly ignite.

If anything, Hibs shone brighter with Joe Newell and