Aberdeen 3-0 Edinburgh City: Premiership side breeze into last 16
- Published
Christian Ramirez fired home from close range to score Aberdeen's second goal
Aberdeen breezed into the last 16 of the Scottish Cup with a routine win against League 2 side Edinburgh City at Pittodrie.
Ryan Hedges and Christian Ramirez netted in the first half, during which Aberdeen registered 22 shots.
The game slowed in the second half, but Lewis Ferguson looped a header into the top corner in stoppage time to set up a trip to Motherwell in the next round.
Edinburgh City defended reasonably well but mustered just one shot.
Perhaps with the League Cup exit at the hands of Raith Rovers earlier this season still fresh in his mind, Aberdeen manager Stephen Glass named the same side who had performed strongly against Rangers on Wednesday.
It gave City - who are fourth in League 2 but with just one win in their last five league games - less chance of an upset and they were under pressure from kick-off and only registered their one shot late on.
The visitors were also fortunate not to go down to 10 men early in the game as centre-back Lee Hamilton escaped with a caution after a two-footed challenge left Teddy Jenks on the floor in pain for several minutes.
The Premiership side shook that off, though, and opened the scoring when Funso Ojo's shot was parried into the path of Jonny Hayes, allowing him to cross for Hedges to sweep in the opener on 23 minutes.
City goalkeeper Brian Schwake then made a string of saves - most of which were comfortable - and Ojo cracked a post before Hedges turned provider for Ramirez to smash the ball into the roof of the net and grab the second goal before the break.
Given the gulf between the sides, that was effectively game over, and Aberdeen lacked sharpness in the final third in the second period.
Ferguson's free kick off the bar from nearly 30 yards was the best of their efforts, while Jay Emmanuel-Thomas also found the woodwork when he had the whole goal to aim at from 10 yards.
That was until Ferguson took advantage of confusion in the City box following Calvin Ramsay's free kick to guide a header up and into the top corner and cap a straightforward win for the Premiership side.
Aberdeen manager Stephen Glass: "The way we approached the first half made the game a little bit easier.
"We would have liked more goals but the quality wasn't quite there in the second half - but it's better than the reverse where you don't start properly and have to chase it."
Edinburgh City manager Gary Naysmith: "It was a difficult game for us. I didn't expect them to play the starting XI that face Rangers, if I'm honest.
"I hate getting beat. I thought it was going to be an uncomfortable afternoon but the players in the main held their own and 3-0 was probably a fair reflection."