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matches

Aberdeen 1 - 0 Nistru Otaci

HT Score: Aberdeen 0 - 0 Nistru Otaci

UEFA Cup Second Preliminary Round First Leg
Aberdeen scorers: Mackie 59.

15/08/2002 | KO: 19:45

Not Over yet

Aberdeen took a slender lead to Moldova, but at least they kept a clean sheet in a disappointing match. The first half was instantly forgettable and indeed the visitors looked the more threatening. The Dons stepped up the pace in the second period and were rewarded with a Darren Mackie strike in the 59th minute.

Nistru kicked off and forced the first corner of the match after only 30 seconds. There was little of further note in the opening ten minutes apart from a Mincev shot in the 8th minute which went harmlessly past Kjaer's right hand post. Two minutes later McNaughton had to look sharp as the visitors threatened once more. Aberdeen created their first opening in the 11th minute when Derek Young broke on the left and delivered a high cross, which D'Jaffo was unable to steer goalwards.

Nistru should have taken the lead in the 17th minute when Groshev failed to convert a dangerous Popescu cross. The visitors were looking far more threatening with crisp passing movements that Aberdeen were unable to emulate. The 20th minute saw the Dons win their first corner kicks, but both were comfortably held by the keeper. The Dons looked sharper in the 22nd minute when Clark forced his way forward and found Darren Young in space. He tried to play a clever one-two with his brother, but the Moldovan defence was quick to cut out the danger.

Clark caused more problems for the visitors in the 26th minute when he broke on the left again and delivered a dangerous cross, which was whipped off D'Jaffo's head by Kovalkov. Lascencov became the first booking off the match on the half-hour mark for kicking the ball away. Aberdeen won a free kick wide left when Clark was scythed down at the bye line. The cross was too high for D'Jaffo and the ball went harmlessly out of play. Two minutes later the Frenchman was once more inches from a cross. This time the provider was Deloumeaux.

The Dons were looking sharper now and the Red Army thought the deadlock had been broken in the 38th minute when Chris Clark hit the side netting after the keeper fumbled a Mackie cross. Two minutes later Bisconti tried to release Derek Young with a delicate chip, but Dinov was quickly off his line to clear the danger. There were loud appeals for a spot kick in the 43rd minute when a Nistru defender appeared to handle a high ball. Mr Poulsen was unimpressed and waved play on. Seconds later Chris Clark was booked to cap a frustrating first half.

Nistru started the second half in positive style forcing two corners in quick succession. The second of these resulted in a neat lay off to Popescu. Fortunately for the Dons he screwed his effort well wide. A minute later D'Jaffo had a half chance, but fired weakly at the keeper from 15 yards. The Dons created a bit of pressure at this stage, but looked determined to walk the ball into the net rather than shoot on sight.

Leon Mike replaced D'Jaffo in the 57th minute and two minutes later he was involved in the build up for the opening goal. He released Derek Young on the right and his cross was bulleted into the net off the head of Darren Mackie from six yards. McAllister replaced Clark in the 65th minute and took up position on the left of midfield. The Dons had a chance in the 72nd minute when McNaughton was felled on the right. A short pass to Darren Young saw the captain have a dig from 25 yards only to see his effort easily blocked.

A neat dummy by Leon Mike set up Derek Young in the 76th minute and his low drive was gathered well by Dinov. With Skovdahl screaming at his troops to inject some urgency into their play, Nistru almost grabbed an equaliser with five minutes remaining. Kopystyanskyy broke clear and screwed his effort inches wide of the post. The Dons frustration continued as decisions went against them and the visitors wasted time at every opportunity. The 90th minute saw McAllister in a striking role as he headed a Derek Young cross wide of the target.

Aberdeen Teamsheet
Kjaer, Deloumeaux, Anderson, McGuire, McNaughton, Young, Clark (McAllister 65), D'Jaffo (Mike 57), Bisconti, Young, Mackie.

Unused Subs: Preece, Tiernan, O'Donoghue, Michie, Payne.

Bookings:  Clark (43),  Mike (86),  McAllister (88).
Nistru Otaci Teamsheet
Dinov, Lupasco (Matiura  88), Lascencov, Kovalkov, Pidhayetskyy, Bursuc, Popescu (Kopystyanskyy  67), Pogreban, Groshev, Blajco (Yanchuk  75), Mincev. Unused Subs: Bunea, Maievici, Starovyk, Malitskyy

Bookings:  Lascencov 30
Attendance: 9,894
Visitors:103
Venue: Pittodrie Stadium, Aberdeen
Referee: Tonny Kolbe Poulsen
Next Match
Hibernian
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21 Dec 2024 / 15:00 / Pittodrie Stadium, Aberdeen