Dons have it all to do despite late equaliser

Europa LEaguE: Aberdeen may come to rue missed chances

ABERDEEN 1 MARIBOR 1

Jonny Hayes grabbed a late Europa League equaliser for Aberdeen.

The Dons missed a glut of chances in the first leg of the third qualifying round before being stunned by an 83rd-minute goal by Milivoje Novakovic.

Hayes, however, slotted home from 10 yards four minutes later to secure a 1-1 draw.

Maribor had knocked Hibs, Rangers and Celtic out of European competition in the past six years – not losing any of the six legs – and reached the Champions League group stages courtesy of their victory over Ronny Deila’s side.

They will remain favourites to make it a fourth Scottish scalp following their away goal, but they faced an early onslaught in front of 17,105 fans at Pittodrie, when Adam Rooney, Jayden Stockley and Niall McGinn all came close inside the first three minutes.

Rooney was presented with a chance when a Maribor pass ricocheted into his path, but goalkeeper Jasmin Handanovic got in the way.

Maribor missed the best chance of the half when Marwan Kabha blazed over from eight yards after Marko Suler got round Rooney and cut the ball back.

McGinn had a free-kick saved before Rooney was denied by Handanovic.

The Irishman was then inches away from connecting with Andrew Considine’s cross with a diving header.

Aberdeen came closest to a first-half opener with two minutes remaining as Handanovic produced a brilliant reflex stop as Stockley headed McGinn’s corner goalwards. Joe Lewis made two comfortable saves before Aberdeen kick-started their second half 12 minutes in as Stockley forced a decent stop.

Hayes arrowed a 22-yard strike just beyond the far post and the hosts kept the pressure on without carving out the clear chances of the first half.

They thought they were ahead in the 80th minute when Rooney slotted home from McGinn’s through ball but he was flagged offside. But they soon fell behind when Novakovic shrugged off Ash Taylor to run on to a through ball and fire home from 16 yards.

Defeat would have been an injustice for the Dons and Hayes showed composure to continue Aberdeen’s run of late goals. Attendance: 17, 105 Aberdeen: Lewis, Logan, Taylor, Reynolds, Considine, McGinn, Jack, Shinnie (Burns 72), Hayes, Rooney, Stockley (McLean 72). Subs not used: O’Connor, Pawlett, Alexander, Wright, Storey.

Maribor: Handanovic, Janza, Defendi, Sme, Suler, Vrhovec (Pihler 68), Hotic (Bohar 45), Vrsic (Bajde 84), Kabha, Morales, Novakovic. Subs not used: Omoregie, Viler, Obradovic, Mertelj Referee: Tore Hansen (Norway) West Ham were beaten 2-1 by NK Domzale in their Europa League tie.

Picture: SNS Group. Jonny Hayes, right, equalises to give Aberdeen some hope of progressing.

Adam Rooney wheels away after putting the ball in the net. His celebrations were short-lived, however, as he was ruled offside.