Aberdeen 2 - 2 FCSB

After leading 2-0, ten men FCSB were unable to hold out for the win in the first leg as substitutes Polvara and Sokler dragged the Dons back into the tie, leaving next week’s trip to Bucharest a tantalising prospect. 

Following the 3-0 win over Greenock Morton in the Premier Sports Cup, there was just one change to Jimmy Thelin’s team, Topi Keskinen coming in for the injured Shayden Morris. Added to the substitutes were Rodrigo Vitols, Mats Knoester, Kenan Bilalovic and Dylan Lobban.

The game kicked off in a great atmosphere at Pittodrie and there were huge claims for a penalty for the Dons in the second minute as Gavin Molloy was sent sprawling in the box as he chased an Alexander Jensen cross, but the referee was not interested. 

Ante Palaversa threaded a delightful bending ball into the box four minutes later, just inches in front of Kusini Yengi as he came in at the back post, all part of a good start for the Dons. 

A mazy run through the box from Nicolas Milanovic ultimately set up Adil Aouchiche to fire at goal in the 12th minute, but his effort was well blocked. Moments later, Tanase was booked for a foul on Palaversa 30 yards out. The Dons were pinning FCSB back into their own half but had yet to make Tarnovanu make a save in front of the RDS. 

Milanovic was booked on 22 for sliding in on Tanase. Tanase then took a piece out of Aouchiche, a dangerous game for the man on a yellow card. 

FCSB were on the break on 27 and Tanase looked as if he might burst through on goal, only for Alfie Dorrington to make sure that he would not pass. A warning though for Aberdeen. 

Aouchiche cut inside from the left two minutes later and let fly with a shot from the corner of the box, but it went straight down Tarnovanu’s throat for an easy save.

Aberdeen had not heeded the warning at the back though, and on 32 minutes, FCSB were in front through Birligea. On the counter-attack, the FCSB number 9 galloped into space behind Jensen to collect a pass and he had the simplest of tasks to find an angled finish past Dimitar Mitov. 

The complexion of the game changed again on 38 minutes as Milanovic was bringing the ball out from the box only to be chopped down from behind by Cisotti. He was shown a straight red card, with Cretu then booked for dissent in the aftermath. 

Heading into added time, Keskinen scooped a shot over the bar as the Dons tried to find the equaliser before the break. Palaversa was close , picking up a loose ball and driving into the box but from a dozen yards, he didn’t get enough on his effort and Tarnovanu was down sharply to save to his left.

HALF-TIME: ABERDEEN 0 FCSB 1

There were three changes for the Dons at the break with Yengi, Dorrington and Sivert Heltne Nilsen making way for Leighton Clarkson, Ester Sokler and Mats Knoester, Knoester taking the armband. FCSB replaced Tanase, Cretu and Chirches with Edjouma and Kiki

But there was no time for Aberdeen’s changes to bed in, for within a minute, Olaru had made it 2-0. Molloy and Knoester left the ball to one another on the left, Birligea nipping in between them to pinch it. He ran on into the box and squared for Olaru to slide in and score at the back post. 

It was nearly three on 51, Mitov making a magnificent save at full stretch to tip Miculescu’s volley around the post. 

Aberdeen responded with Jack Milne hoisting a ball to the back post a minute later. Sokler was up to head back across goal but Aouchiche couldn’t get enough on his header to trouble Tarnovanu. Palaversa dragged a 20 yarder wide on 58. 

Dante Polvara and Graeme Shinnie were Aberdeen’s next changes on 59, replacing Milanovic and Molloy as the Dons looked for a way back into the game. 

They found it within two minutes, Polvara collecting a clever little flick on from Aouchiche, and producing a thunderous first time finish on the turn with his left foot that flew in off the post, a superb goal that brought Pittodrie to life. 

A well worked corner from Palversa in the 63rd minute found Keskinen coming onto the ball but he blasted his shot into the Red Shed. Polvara was the instigator on 65, a glorious curling cross into the box, Sokler’s glancing header drifting agonisingly wide of the far post. It was all Aberdeen now, Aouchiche bending a shot through the box but just wide after 70 minutes.

FCSB replaced Sut with Lixandru on 72 minutes, just after Olaru had very nearly put a free-kick over the top of the RDS. 

There was a glorious chance for Sokler from a Palversa knockdown on 73, but with just Tarnovanu to beat, he snatched at his volley from eight yards out and the ball bobbled through to the goalkeeper, a big opportunity spurned. Palaversa was booked for a foul on Olaru after 75 minutes who required treatment for the third time in the half. Sokler was then carded for a collision with Popescu four minutes later.

There were more penalty claims for Aberdeen when Polvara was pushed to the ground after 84 minutes but there was nothing doing. FCSB were on the break seconds later after Clarkson gave the ball away to Birligea. He set Edjouma away but his shot was blocked behind. 

Popescu saved his side on 86, Jensen pulling the ball back for Keskinen. His drive looked goalbound until Popescu threw himself in the way of it. FCSB were on the break from there, Jack Milne booked for a foul on Birligea who needed treatment in the aftermath. 

Sokler was inches away on 89, Clarkson picking out Polvara with his cross to the back post. Polvara headed it down for Sokler but his effort was deflected wide. No matter, from the corner, Sokler had his goal. Arrowed in from the right, Sokler came barrelling onto it six yards out and bulleted his header through Tarnovanu’s grasp and in for the equaliser. 

Politic replaced Birligea in the second of six minutes of added time. 

Polvara almost won it on 94. Great persistence from Shinnie won the ball down the left and his cross was cleared to Polvara. He played it to Aouchiche, onto Sokler who flicked it to Polvara, and his header was saved at point blank range by Tarnovanu. The game goes to Bucharest perfectly poised. 

5-1 minutes added at end 1st half.
6 minutes added at end 2nd half.