Cristian Ramirez’s move to Scottish side Aberdeen caught many by surprise this summer, but the American forward continued to be one of the club’s top players on Saturday.
Ramirez played the hero, delivering the only goal in a 1-0 win over Hibernian on Saturday. The result snapped a 10-match winless run across all competitions for the club, giving Stephen Glass’ side a first league win since early-August.
.@AberdeenFC haven't had much possession against Hibs, but @Chris_Ramirez17 puts them ahead with a great finish pic.twitter.com/xZThpCorEp
— Wes Burdine (@MnNiceFC) October 23, 2021
Ramirez connected with a cross in the 27th minute from 18-year-old winger Calvin Ramsey, firing the ball into the bottom corner. It was Ramirez’s fifth league goal in his ninth Premiership appearance for the club, continuing what has been a bargain signing.
The 30-year-old joined Aberdeen before the 2021-22 season from the Houston Dynamo for a reported $250,000 fee. Ramirez also contributed three goals in UEFA Conference League qualifying earlier this summer.
Ramirez joins a few more Americans on good form in the Premiership, following Ian Harkes and Cameron Carter-Vickers. Celtic centerback Carter-Vickers also played 90 minutes in a 2-0 win over St. Johnstone on Saturday while Dundee United midfielder Ian Harkes played 90 minutes in a 2-1 victory over Motherwell.
“The staff has given me real confidence and has revitalized my career here so I want to repay them for that by playing well and scoring goals,” Ramirez said Monday in a club interview. “Celebrating with the manager and the staff after the goal was just sending a message about our support for them to everyone else.
“You have to block out the noise from outside,” Ramirez said. “We hear the stuff about us as a team, we get things individually, but it’s football, you know that’ll happen if you’re not winning. We control what we can, which is what happens on the training pitch and on the field, what we say in the dressing room. We stick together and we continue to do the best work we can.”
Aberdeen will hope Saturday’s win will spark the club up the league table, after moving to eighth place following today’s win. Up next is a midweek trip to second place Rangers before a home clash with leaders Hearts next weekend.