Classic match - Hibs

Published on Monday 1 December 2008 09:07

Aberdeen 2 Hibs 2 October 2 1999 THIS game looked to be ending in a Dons' win after Eoin Jess had put them ahead in the 58th minute.

But, in a stunning final eight minutes, the fans were treated to three goals.

The game had started with current Hibs boss Mixu Paatelainen picking up an early word of warning from referee Gary Mitchell after sending Derek Young crashing into the advertising boards and, from the free-kick, Jim Hamilton's knockdown was fired high and wide by Eoin Jess.

Aberdeen were making all the early running and Hamilton got his head on to the end of Andy Dow's cross but his effort didn't carry enough power to trouble Ole Gottskalksson.

Paul

Hartley then seemed to have put Paatelainen in but a marginal offside decision halted the big Finn.

Derek Collins picked up the game's first booking in the 18th minute for a foul on Young before another good run from Dow forced the first corner of the match.

Shaun Dennis headed the inswinging cross away but the ball fell for Andreas Mayer, whose first time volley whistled wide.

Gottskalksson came to Hibs' rescue in the 26th minute with a superb fingertip save to prevent ex-Hearts star Hamilton claiming the opening goal.

The big striker got up above everyone to meet a right-wing cross from Mayer and his looping header appeared to be sneaking in until the Icelandic star got the slightest of touches to send the ball against his own bar.

The goalie was alert enough to get back to his feet and grab the ball as it dropped before Young could get to it.

It took Hibs until 37 minutes to force their first corner which came to nothing, but it signalled the start of a few minutes of sustained pressure from the Easter Road outfit.

Aberdeen should have taken the lead two minutes from the interval when Mayer found space in the Hibs penalty area, but the German midfielder sent his shot wide. The large contingent of Hibs fans were no doubt hoping their side could pose more of a threat in front of goal in the second half, but the opening minutes didn't give them much encouragement as Aberdeen continued to hold the upper hand.

And it came as no surprise when Aberdeen took the lead in the 58th minute.

Hamilton slipped the ball inside to Mayer, who looked up and fired in a shot which crashed off the bar. Jess was on to the rebound in a flash and, although he looked to have mishit his shot, he still wrong-footed Gottskalksson. Aberdeen almost extended their lead in the 76th minute when Dow found Hamilton inside the Hibs penalty area but he pulled his shot across goal and wide.

Hibs equalised in the 82nd minute and again the woodwork played a major role in the goal. David Preece could only push substitute Stevie Crawford's shot on to the post and the ball fell for Paatelainen to prod it home. Aberdeen substitute Ricky Gillies restored the Dons' lead five minutes from the end when he rose to power home a header from Robbie Winters' cross. But Hibs, incredibly, fought their way back with another equaliser, this time from German defender Mathias Jack.

Dennis got up above everyone to meet Crawford's corner from the right. The ball fell for Grant Brebner whose shot was blocked, as was an effort from Pat McGinlay. But Jack cracked home his first goal for Hibs through a forest of legs.

Aberdeen: Preece, Perry, Anderson (Lilley 50), Solberg, Dow, Young (Gillies 82), Jamie Buchan, Mayer, McAllister (Winters 70), Hamilton, Jess. Subs not used: Leighton, Bett.

Hibs: Gottskalksson, Collins, Dennis, Lovell (Miller 61), Renwick, Jack, Dempsie, Brebner, Latapy (McGinlay 82), Paatelainen, Hartley (Stephen Crawford 72). Subs not used: Colgan, Lehmann.