Match ends, Inverness CT 1, Aberdeen 2.
Niall McGinn clinched Aberdeen's highest league finish in 21 years as victory at Inverness secured at least the runners-up spot in the Premiership.
Edward Ofere shot Caley Thistle into a deserved lead at the start of the second half.
However, the resilient Dons hit back with McGinn's free-kick deflected in by the head of David Raven.
And McGinn's winner moved the Dons back to within five points of Celtic ahead of the leaders' trip to Dundee United.
The result also means Celtic cannot win the league at home to Dundee on Friday even if they pick up the three points at Tannadice on Sunday.
This was Aberdeen's fourth win of the season against the Highlanders but Inverness will be kicking themselves at failing to take anything from a match they dominated in the first half.
Unfortunately for John Hughes and his side they failed to make the most of the chances they created and paid the penalty as the Dons' threat grew on an afternoon when a strong wind made fluent football difficult at times.
Josh Meekings played for the home side after a difficult week for the defender, who was cleared to play in next month's Scottish Cup final after successfully challenging the offer of a ban.
Bizarrely, there was confusion over whether he could face Aberdeen, with his name appearing on the Scottish Football Association's list of players due to serve suspensions despite only being booked three times this season.
Aberdeen struggled to get their game going when playing into the wind in the first half but Nick Ross and Marley Watkins failed to make the most of the excellent chances the home side created.
Watkins in particular was guilty of a terrible miss shooting into goalkeeper Scott Brown's body when it seemed easier to convert Graeme Shinnie's sweeping cross.
Watkins turned provider early in the second half with a cross for Ofere's header that Brown blocked, but the Nigerian lashed the rebound high into the net.
Then there was agony for last week's Scottish Cup hero Raven as the full-back - who got the extra-time semi-final winner against Celtic - diverted McGinn's free-kick past Ryan Esson.
Six minutes later, McGinn pounced to ram the loose ball in for the winner after an in-swinging Jonny Hayes corner had caused all sorts of problems for the home defence.
Defeat leaves Inverness still looking for a first home win since mid-January and with just four points from the last 24 available, but still on course to finish third, which would be the highest in their 21-year history.
Line-ups
Inverness CT
Formation 4-4-2
- 1Esson
- 2RavenSubstituted forKinkat 87'minutes
- 5Warren
- 6Meekings
- 3Shinnie
- 11RossSubstituted forVincentat 72'minutes
- 16Tansey
- 22ChristieSubstituted forDoranat 73'minutes
- 19Williams
- 7Ofere
- 15Watkins
Substitutes
- 4Vincent
- 10Doran
- 14Devine
- 18Tremarco
- 20Polworth
- 25Kink
- 31Mackay
Aberdeen
Formation 4-4-1-1
- 20Brown
- 2Logan
- 5Taylor
- 6Reynolds
- 3ConsidineBooked at 52mins
- 10McGinnSubstituted forDanielsat 90+1'minutes
- 8Flood
- 22Jack
- 11Hayes
- 7McLeanSubstituted forSmithat 45'minutes
- 9RooneySubstituted forGoodwillieat 78'minutes
Substitutes
- 1Langfield
- 14Smith
- 16Pawlett
- 17Goodwillie
- 18Low
- 25Shankland
- 28Daniels
- Referee:
- Crawford Allan
- Attendance:
- 4,530
Match Stats
- Possession
- Home51%
- Away49%
- Shots
- Home6
- Away6
- Shots on Target
- Home5
- Away4
- Corners
- Home6
- Away5
- Fouls
- Home10
- Away13
Live Text
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Post update
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Full Time
Second Half ends, Inverness CT 1, Aberdeen 2.
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Post update
Foul by Josh Meekings (Inverness CT).
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Post update
Cameron Smith (Aberdeen) wins a free kick on the right wing.
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Substitution
Substitution, Aberdeen. Donervorn Daniels replaces Niall McGinn.
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Substitution
Substitution, Inverness CT. Tarmo Kink replaces David Raven.
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Post update
Edward Ofere (Inverness CT) wins a free kick in the attacking half.
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Post update
Foul by Ash Taylor (Aberdeen).
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Post update
Corner, Inverness CT. Conceded by Scott Brown.
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Post update
Corner, Inverness CT. Conceded by Andrew Considine.
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Post update
James Vincent (Inverness CT) wins a free kick in the defensive half.
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Post update
Foul by Willo Flood (Aberdeen).
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Substitution
Substitution, Aberdeen. David Goodwillie replaces Adam Rooney.
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Post update
Corner, Aberdeen. Conceded by Ryan Esson.
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Post update
Corner, Aberdeen. Conceded by Ryan Esson.
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Post update
Attempt saved. Jonny Hayes (Aberdeen) left footed shot from the right side of the box is saved in the top left corner.
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Goal!
Goal! Inverness CT 1, Aberdeen 2. Niall McGinn (Aberdeen) right footed shot from very close range to the centre of the goal. Assisted by Cameron Smith.
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Post update
Corner, Aberdeen. Conceded by Graeme Shinnie.
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Substitution
Substitution, Inverness CT. Aaron Doran replaces Ryan Christie.
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Substitution
Substitution, Inverness CT. James Vincent replaces Nick Ross.