Dunfermline knocked holders Aberdeen out of the Scottish Cup with a shock 3-0 victory at KDM Group East End Park.
Midfielder Matty Todd put Neil Lennon’s Championship side ahead after 14 minutes, and 20-year-old loanee Olly Thomas doubled the lead in the 22nd minute with his first goal for the Pars since joining from Bristol City. Around 4,000 Aberdeen supporters had travelled to Fife; they booed their team off at half-time and many left around the hour mark after Thomas struck the clinching third on the break.
The result compounded a difficult spell for the Granite City club, who had already been condemned to a bottom-half Premiership finish by Wednesday’s 2-1 loss to Celtic. Aberdeen remain under interim manager Peter Leven following Jimmy Thelin’s departure two months ago. Dunfermline, who earlier eliminated Premiership side Hibernian, join Falkirk and two other teams in the hat for the semi-final draw.
In the only quarter-final without VAR, Aberdeen had the opening chance when Stuart Armstrong’s effort was blocked by Pars keeper Aston Oxborough. The opener came when Robbie Fraser’s searching cross, aided by a poor clearance from Mitchell Frame, dropped to Todd; he took a touch and fired high past Dimitar Mitov at the near post. Dunfermline punished Aberdeen again soon after when Fraser released Thomas; his initial shot was blocked by Mitov but the rebound came back off Thomas and into the net, prompting jubilant scenes among the home crowd.
Boos rang out from the visiting fans as Tom McIntyre made a fine block to deny Alfons Amade from a Thomas cutback. Leven responded at the break with a triple substitution, bringing on Sivert Nilsen, Toyosi Olusanya and Gavin Molloy for Frame, Nicolas Milanovic and Lyall Cameron.
Aberdeen started the second half on the front foot and had Dunfermline pinned back for periods, but a classic counter-attack produced the decisive third. Chris Kane fed Thomas, whose shot beat Mitov and nestled in off the far post. Aberdeen rarely recovered; Mitov pushed a Charlie Gilmour drive wide and Kane headed a corner past the far post, while Dunfermline continued to threaten on the break — Mitov saved from Andy Tod — as supporters in the Aberdeen end gradually emptied. The final whistle confirmed a comprehensive and deserved win for the Pars, who received a warm ovation from the home fans.