NafisaRangers are celebrating another important victory after booking their place in the Scottish League Cup final, but Saturday’s narrow win over Aberdeen also exposed some worrying issues in Derek McInnes’ attacking department.
The Ibrox side needed patience to break down a stubborn Aberdeen defence at Hampden, with the visitors making life difficult for their former manager throughout a frustrating contest.
For much of the evening, Rangers struggled to turn their possession into clear-cut opportunities, and it appeared the semi-final could be heading towards extra time.
That was until Ryan Naderi delivered another decisive contribution in the 83rd minute, finding the space inside the box to turn James Penrice’s cross into the net and send Rangers through to the final.
His late intervention was particularly important because several Rangers attackers had failed to produce their best performances.
One summer signing, in particular, endured another difficult afternoon, and his latest display has raised serious questions about whether he should retain his place in the starting eleven.
Naderi rescues Rangers against stubborn Aberdeen
Aberdeen arrived at Hampden having conceded only 14 goals in their opening 11 Scottish Premiership matches, and their defensive organisation made them difficult opponents to break down.
They adopted a deep defensive approach, looking to frustrate Rangers and exploit opportunities on the counter-attack. McInnes’ side were consequently forced to be patient, particularly after their previous league defeat to Hearts had exposed the danger of losing possession in vulnerable areas.
The first half ended without a breakthrough, with Rangers struggling to find the space required to penetrate Aberdeen’s defensive structure.
Naderi had one of their better opportunities shortly before the interval when he connected with Nicolas Raskin’s inswinging cross, only to see his effort flick onto the roof of the net.
However, the forward remained a constant threat through his movement inside the penalty area.
His persistence eventually paid off in the 83rd minute when he intelligently moved around Gavin Molloy to meet Penrice’s delivery and score the decisive goal.
It was another demonstration of why Naderi has become such an important player for Rangers. The Czechia international has now recorded six goals and four assists across his last nine appearances for the club.
His contribution against Aberdeen ensured that Rangers avoided a potentially damaging result and secured their place in the final, where they will face either Hearts or Hibernian.
Min-su Kim delivers another worrying performance
While Naderi was receiving praise for his match-winning contribution, Min-su Kim was left with plenty to reflect on after another disappointing attacking display.
The South Korean winger arrived at Ibrox from Girona during the summer transfer window in a deal reportedly worth £8.5 million, but he has yet to register a goal or assist in 11 appearances across all competitions.
His performance against Aberdeen did little to ease concerns about his adaptation to Scottish football.
Kim started on the left side of the attack, with Naderi operating centrally and Badredine Bouanani on the opposite flank.
However, his positioning repeatedly caused problems for Rangers.
The 20-year-old kept drifting into central areas, leaving significant spaces on the left wing. This made it difficult for his teammates to find an available passing option when they attempted to move the ball into wider positions.
The problem was that Kim failed to compensate for those positional issues with meaningful contributions in the final third.
Just before half-time, he received the ball in a promising central position but fired his effort high and wide, wasting an opportunity to give Rangers the advantage.
His overall performance was subsequently rated just 4/10 by Football FanCast, making him the lowest-rated Rangers player in their assessment of the match.
McInnes urged to drop £8.5m signing
Kim’s latest struggles are particularly concerning because they come after another costly mistake in Rangers’ previous league outing against Hearts.
The winger moved centrally and surrendered possession in his own half, with the error contributing to the opposition’s second goal.
That incident, combined with his ineffective display against Aberdeen, has strengthened the argument that McInnes should consider making changes to his attacking selection.
Rangers legend and Pundit Kris Boyd believes Kim is now heading towards the bench for Rangers’ next Scottish Premiership fixture against St Mirren.
The suggested replacement is Findlay Curtis, who could be handed an opportunity to start on the left side of the attack.
Curtis has previously demonstrated his ability to contribute when given opportunities, and a starting appearance would allow him to compete for a more regular role in the squad.
For Kim, however, the situation is becoming increasingly uncomfortable.
Rangers invested a reported £8.5 million in bringing him to Ibrox, and the club will naturally expect a greater attacking return from a player signed to strengthen their forward options.
There is still time for the youngster to turn things around, but his recent performances have given McInnes a decision to make.
With Rangers now preparing for their next league assignment, Kim could discover that his place in the starting eleven is no longer guaranteed.
Naderi’s late winner may have secured a memorable night at Hampden, but it also ensured that the spotlight would fall on the players who failed to make the most of their opportunities.
Nafisa
