Hibernian 0-1 Aberdeen: How Bojan Miovski made difference for Aberdeen again
- Published
Bojan Miovski has started every game for Aberdeen this term, scoring 10 goals and providing three assists in his 18 appearances
Sticking the ball in the back of the net is the most valuable commodity in football.
Playing well is ultimately futile if you cannot take your chances, and that is what happened for Hibernian as they were eliminated from the Viaplay Cup by an Aberdeen side that hardly had a sniff.
Rarely has the value of a quality centre-forward been more on show than at Hampden, as Hibs spurned chance after chance, before being suckered by Bojan Miovski's lethal finish.
Aberdeen had few openings, one clear sight of goal, but Miovski showed the composure that Hibs lacked, buried his chance, and secured his team's route to the final against all the odds.
"It's an unbelievable feeling," the North Macedonia international said. "It's always special to win this type of game, the players all work for this moment.
"I'm a striker so I need to score goals - it doesn't matter if its the semi-final, final or in the league. The pressure is always on the striker. Of course, it's more special because it was the winner."
Miovski has been the go-to man for Aberdeen this season, starting every game, with 10 goals and three assists from his 18 appearances, and he is held in the highest esteem by his manager and his fellow players.
"Bojan is the man we wanted that chance to fall to," captain Graeme Shinnie said.
"Bojan probably could have scored a hat-trick in the end there," added manager Barry Robson.
You only have to look at Miovski's stats to see what he brings to his side.
His shot conversion rate in the Scottish Premiership this season is 17.4% - Aberdeen's without him is 12.3%.
He has had more than 20% of Aberdeen's touches in the opposition penalty box, and no-one at Pittodrie comes close to his goal output.
"That lapse of concentration from Hibs has allowed Miovski to run through and do what he does best, and that's score goals," Aberdeen legend Willie Miller said on Sportsound. "He was clinical, he picked his spot and he slotted it home."
Another former Scotland international, John Collins, was similarly impressed.
"Since Miovski has come to Aberdeen, that's what he's proved. He gets chances and takes the majority of them," he said.
"Today, that was the difference. They got a chance, probably one real glaring chance, and he put it in the back of the net at a key, key moment of the game when they just went down to 10 men.
"He's been running and chasing - he's hardly had a kick all game - but 15 minutes to go, he's still got the power in those legs to break away. Does he keep his composure or balloon it over the bar? No, he puts it in the bottom corner."
Miovski himself revealed how much the travelling Aberdeen support pushed him on, and dedicated the win to them.
"Aberdeen fans are always behind us," he said. "It doesn't matter if we're home or away. I've never experienced this at another club. They motivate me on the pitch and this final is for them."
Aberdeen's leading marksman is their man for the big occasion, and you certainly wouldn't bet against him celebrating again at Hampden when the final rolls round on December 17.
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