Hibs Under-19s 2 Rangers 1

The wee Hibees left it late to defeat Rangers at HTC - maintaining our winning start to the 2025/26 CAS Elite Youth League on Tuesday evening!

Josh McDonald’s neat opener was cancelled out by Callum Burnside’s leveller, before Zach Bruce thrashed in the winner on 89 minutes to secure all three points for Hibernian. 

It was a slow burner in Tranent as both sides struggled to get into their opposition’s box. Rangers pressed well high up the park, while multiple channel balls from Hibs were cut out sharp by the visitors. 

A wayward pass from Rangers centre-back Arran Kerr was picked off by Zach Bruce, who rapidly charged forward through the middle before taking on the first shot of the game on 15 minutes. The midfielder’s grounded strike was held by Rydnn McGuire at the second attempt. 

Chances began to flow, with Logan Jimenez heading wide before Gers forward Max Cameron's wild strike flew out for a throw-in - all inside the same minute. With shots on goal suddenly coming thick and fast following a barren start, McDonald would soon open the scoring on 21 minutes.

Arran McSporran glided down the right flank, breezing beyond multiple defenders in his path before firing in a low cross that perfectly picked out McDonald. The midfielder, lingering unmarked in the middle of the box, effortlessly swiped at the ball and picked out the bottom corner. 

Jaden Riddell almost doubled Hibs’ advantage just before the half-hour mark when his header was impressively hooked off the goal-line by Rangers defender Connor Campbell. 

The wee Hibees continues to grow into the game, with McDonald almost netting twice in the following two minutes that followed Riddell’s chance. 

The goalscorer would jink past multiple Rangers defenders each time before firing at McGuire’s goal from the edge of the box. His first strike crashed off the underside of the bar and back out, before his next effort was saved low by the Rangers number one. 

Rangers number nine Cameron, who consistently looked to cut inside onto his left foot, would threaten twice before the break - with his second effort stinging the fingertips of Ryan Mallon at his near post after previously firing over minutes before. 

Rangers would change their shape after the restart in an attempt to counter Hibs’ growing dominance in the match - which worked well as the visitors no doubt providing more threat and holding more possession following half-time than they had in the first 45.

Despite this, it was Hibs who nearly found a second. McSporran would once more craft a great chance by finding Cleland at the back post with a precise cross, but the forward would awkwardly fire wide from close range after struggling to get himself into position in time. 

While rueing missed chances, Hibs would be pegged back onto level terms after 67 minutes. Callum Burnside would lash in an equaliser after connecting sweetly with a cross, with Mallon unable to push the ball back out to safety. 

Both teams went toe-to-roe for the remainder of the match. Lewis Gillie would soon head over after meeting a McNeill knock-on deep in the box - before Rangers would counter quickly, with Cormac Christie firing wide on the half-volley after racing in behind to latch onto a lob ball over the top of the Hibs defence.

Burnside would threaten once more, with the attacker forcing a great stop from Mallon with a smart bicycle kick effort. 

After a great back-and-forth between the two sides, Hibs started to show more threat. Gillie would have a great chance to win it after being sent through by Davidson, but the defender would blast over on his right peg after chopping inside his marker. 

With time running out, it would be holding midfielder Bruce who netted the winner at HTC. 

Jimenez would trip while trying to force his way through on goal, but the striker would cleverly shunt the ball into Bruce’s path on the edge of the box in an improvised manner while lying on the turf. Bruce would thrash at the ball, drilling it past McGuire and into the bottom corner with aplomb. 

A nervy few minutes of stoppage-time played out, but the Hibees held on to secure all three points and maintain their 100% league start!

Hibernian Starting XI: Mallon, McSporran, Riddell, McNeill, McGrath, Bruce, Cleland (Macdonald 82'), McDonald, Jimenez, Davidson (Downie 90+3'), Gillie.

Unused Substitutes: Brown, Burns, Gallacher, Shankland.