Aberdeen booked their place in the Scottish Cup final with a dramatic 2-1 extra-time win over Hearts at Hampden Park, sealed by a 118th-minute strike from Oday Dabbagh.
Aberdeen struck first when Hearts’ goalkeeper Craig Gordon inadvertently turned the ball into his own net in the 18th minute.
However, the lead was short-lived—Lawrence Shankland equalised for Hearts in the 28th minute with a calm finish.
The match turned scrappy before the break, with Michael Steinwender receiving a red card in the 44th minute. Hearts’ numerical disadvantage worsened when Cameron Devlin was shown a second yellow in the 116th minute, leaving them down to nine men.
Dabbagh, the Palestinian forward on loan from Charleroi, capitalised just two minutes later, burying a rebound for the winner. It was his fourth goal in 10 matches across all competitions for Aberdeen, to go with one assist, an impressive return since arriving in February.
Dabbagh's journey from Jerusalem to Aberdeen has been marked by perseverance and talent. Having played for clubs in Kuwait, Portugal, and Belgium, he joined Aberdeen on loan in February 2025. His contributions have been significant, including a stoppage-time winner against Kilmarnock in February.
As Aberdeen prepares for the final, Dabbagh's form and determination will be crucial in their quest to end a 35-year Scottish Cup drought.
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