Dons in danger of Euro exit after draw
SCOTTISH football’s on and these days mostly off relationship with the Europa League took another turn for the worse at Pittodrie.
Siroki Brijeg of Bosnia and Herzegovina deserved their draw with Aberdeen.
In the end, for the Premiership’s second-best team, this 1-1 was a decent result given how their opponents played in the final half hour.
The Dons simply ran out of steam. They had taken the lead, were playing some nice stuff, and then hit a wall.
Derek McInnes spoke before the match about his club winning respect on the European stage. Mission, sadly, far from accomplished.
“The Cycle Continues” said a banner. It was a dig at Rangers boss Pedro Caixinha but the sad fact is that the chronic cycle is Scottish clubs outwith Celtic failing to beat modest opposition.
Aberdeen started well and took the lead on 18 minutes. From a long punt by Aberdeen keeper Joe Lewis, Christie collected the ball, showed composure to keep possession, the Siroko back four kindly opened up for him and he directed his shot low into the bottom corner.
It should have been 2-0 on 65 minutes.
Graeme Shinnie had been good all game so it was no surprise it was his cross which caused problems but it came as a shock that Shay Logan got his head to it, only to be denied by a fine Bilobrk save.
And then on 69 minutes came the moment Pittodrie was dreading.
Once again when Siroki got forward, Aberdeen sat back. Coric played a ball into the box, it was partially cleared to Stipo Markovic who steered his left shot past Lewis.
It would have gotten worse had Logan not stuck out a leg to deny Begonja a certain goal.