The Courier & Advertiser (Fife Edition)
Aberdeen’s Lewis Ferguson netted a stunning overhead kick in last night’s Europa League clash with Burnley at Turf Moor but it proved in vain as the Premier League side ran out 3-1 winners in extra time.
Aberdeen edged out in extra time after teenager levels tie at Turf Moor
BURNLEY 3 ABERDEEN 1 AFTER EXTRA TIME (AGGREGATE 4-2)
Aberdeen’s efforts went unrewarded last night as goals from Burnley duo Jack Cork and Ashley Barnes ended their resistance in extra-time at Turf Moor.
After 90 minutes the sides had gamely replicated last week’s 1-1 draw at Pittodrie but the additional half-hour allowed Sean Dyche’s side to flex their muscles, with Cork’s close-range header and Barnes’ penalty sealing a trip to Istanbul Basaksehir next week.
A more straightforward evening appeared to be in the offing for the hosts when Chris Wood lashed home a sixthminute opener but the Dons proved worthy opponents, equalising with a sublime bicycle kick from 18-year-old Lewis Ferguson and staying in the game thanks to goalkeeper Joe Lewis.
It looked as though a shoot-out would be needed to prise the sides apart but England midfielder Cork made the decisive contribution before Barnes finished things from the spot.
After an unbecoming selection of long balls and head tennis, Ashley Westwood conjured a moment of quality to barge the fixture open.
His first-time clip over the top caught Aberdeen short but Wood was alive to the opportunity. The New Zealander took one touch to bring the ball down, a second to drag it away from Lewis and made no mistake in slamming his shot between two defenders on the line.
Things shifted dramatically in the 27th minute, though, following an uncleared corner. The impressive Gary Mackay-Steven beat Matt Lowton and pinged a cross to the far post where Wood’s defensive header floated back across his own goal.
Ferguson sensed his moment and took it brilliantly, swivelling and contorting his body in search of a dream goal. Incredibly the teenager – son of Derek and nephew to Barry – found one.
Ferguson’s inspired intervention raised his team-mates, who grew in confidence and might easily have taken the lead just before the interval when Anders Lindegaard tipped Graeme Shinnie’s snap-shot wide.
Barnes, on for Wood at half-time, brought an added edge to Burnley’s attack but Aberdeen soaked up a period of pressure thanks to Lewis, who made a pair of fine saves to keep the game alive.
A winner in normal time seemed likely as both sides began to tire, but it finished level to send the tie into extra time.
Ten minutes in Burnley finally put daylight between the teams. They worked the ball through the midfield and out to replacement left-back Charlie Taylor. His cross was wicked and Cork’s run went unchecked, leaving the midfielder to nod in from close-range.
Barnes settled it from the spot after Scott McKenna’s handball, leaving Derek McInnes’s side and their large travelling support deflated.