Aberdeen 5 - 0 FC Chikhura Sachkhere

Derek McInnes made one change to the side that started the first‐leg in Georgia last week with Greg Leigh coming in for the injured Ash Taylor. The visitors started with the same eleven that began last Thursday's tie.

The Dons started on the front‐foot and had the majority of possession in what was a frantic opening few minutes. The home‐side had already forced a corner after seven minutes which came to nothing but they didn't have to wait long to break the deadlock.

A surging run down the right by Ryan Hedges carried his team up the pitch as he exchanged passes with Lewis Ferguson and Jon Gallagher. The ball made its way into the area and found Sam COSGROVE waiting twelve‐yards out. The striker's powerful shot took a deflection before finding its way to the top corner of the net.

It could've got even better for the Dons just minutes later as they had strong appeals for a penalty turned away. Niall McGinn's free‐kick into the penalty area caused panic for Chikhura goalkeeper Dino Hamzic. As Hamzic failed to get a clear punch on the cross Lewis Ferguson appeared to be fouled as he went for the loose ball but the Slovenian referee waved away the penalty appeals.

The home‐side were clearly boosted by the early strike and as they kept driving forward, they were rewarded with a second. A ball over the top of the Chikhura defence found Ferguson on the right wing and he delivered a dangerous first‐time cross into the box. COSGROVE was perfectly placed in the middle as he stooped to send a diving header into the back of the net to make it 2‐0 inside the opening twenty minutes.

The Dons were unrelenting as the half went on with the Georgian‐side struggling to get the ball from the men in red. Gallagher and McGinn combined well down the left before the on‐loan Atlanta player fired his cross straight at the keeper.

McGinn then had an opportunity to test Hamzic in the Chikhura goal as Davit Maisashvili handled on the edge of his own box. The Northern Irishman couldn't get enough elevation on his free‐kick which clipped the top of the defensive wall and the resulting corner came to nothing.

It took the Georgians 35‐minutes until they had their first spell of possession of any kind. Despite having a good five minutes of possession whilst the Dons took a breather, the closest they came to Joe Lewis' goal was a shot from distance by Mikheili Ergemlidze which never threatened to test the Dons captain.

The visitors initially showed some intent in the opening minute of the second half but the game returned to a familiar pattern as Aberdeen had the first chance of the second period in the 49th‐minute. Hedges stepped away from his man in midfield before releasing McGinn on the left with a great through ball.

McGinn's low cross was parried out by the keeper straight into the path of the in‐rushing Gallagher. Hamzic produced a superb diving save to deny Gallagher what looked like a certain third goal.

Chikhura then showed that they were still in the tie as substitute Giorgi Pantsulaia went on a jinking run on the left side of the penalty box. Pantsulaia got to the by‐line and cut back for Ergemlidze who failed to flick the ball past Lewis.

Aberdeen put the tie well‐and‐truly to bed after 57‐minutes with a goal from an unlikely source.

McGinn's corner from the right eventually made its way to Ferguson who was waiting at the back of the box. Ferguson composed himself before clipping a cross into the centre where the red shirts were queueing up. Greg LEIGH was at the front of the queue and he looped a header into the net to make it 3‐0 on his home debut.

Scott Wright replaced Niall McGinn in the 61st‐minute and he took just two minutes to get himself on the scoresheet. Gallagher brilliantly won possession in the Chikhura half with a strong tackle which found Funso Ojo. The Belgian played the ball forward and Ferguson and Gallagher combined to send WRIGHT in on goal to slot the fourth goal into the bottom corner.

The Reds made it 5‐0 with ten minutes remaining as Cosgrove completed his hat‐trick. Shay Logan won the ball high up the pitch and forced the ball onto the big striker. COSGROVE collected with his back to goal before turning his marker and firing in from the edge of the area with the outside of his right foot.

The Dons were good value for their big lead and hat‐trick hero Cosgrove was given a standing ovation from the home crowd as he was replaced by substitute Bruce Anderson as he made his first European appearance.

The Dons saw out the remaining minutes comfortably as they kept a clean sheet to add to a great attacking performance as they eased into the next round with plenty to spare with a 6‐1 aggregate victory.