Dons can make Haye
Jonny’s late leveller gives Del’s men everything to play for in second leg
MARIBOR have been the scourge of Scottish sides but they were lucky to escape Pittodrie with a draw on a night of missed chances for Aberdeen.
And the Dons were just relieved they didn’t become the Slovenian side’s latest victims as Jonny Hayes grabbed a dramatic late leveller.
Maribor looked on course for a vital away win when veteran striker Milivoje Novakovic scored with just seven minutes left of this first-leg tie.
It would have been harsh on Derek McInnes and his men after Aberdeen squandered a string of chances before being hit with that sucker punch.
But Irishman Hayes grabbed a deserved equaliser two minutes from time when he fired home from Adam Rooney’s pass.
That keeps the Dons firmly in the hunt for a place in the play-off round of the Europa League as they bid to reach the group stage for the first time in eight years.
On this evidence Aberdeen have nothing to fear when they head to the Ljudski vrt Stadium next week for the return leg against the 13-time Slovenian champions.
And McInnes will be hoping they aren’t left counting the cost of their missed opportunities.
Maribor had the Dons in their sights after ending the Euro hopes of Hibs and both Old Firm clubs in the last six years.
Current boss Darko Milanic was in charge for the wins over Gers and the Easter Road men during his first spell in charge of the Slovenian outfit.
The 48-year-old left for stints at Sturm Graz and Leeds United – lasting just 32 days at Elland Road – before returning to the Violets in March.
Maribor have a European record the Dons will be envious of after qualifying for continental competition 23 out of a possible 25 times.
And they have been in the group stage of either the Champions League or Europa League in four of the last five seasons.
After eliminating Ronny Deila’s Hoops to join Europe’s elite two years ago they earned respectable draws against Chelsea, Sporting Lisbon and Schalke.
But they were knocked out of Europe at the qualifying stage last season by Astana of Kazakhstan and Maribor aren’t considered the strong force they were a fewyears ago. Milanic was brought back towards the end of last season as Maribor trailed in the league and he was unable to help catch eventual champions Olimpija Ljubljana. They have been far from dominant in the Euro ties so far this term, scraping past Levski Sofia in the last round of qualifiers, so Aberdeen would have been confident of getting a result at Pittodrie.
McInnes was certainly positive in his approach with Jayden Stockley named in the starting line-up alongside Adam Rooney up front as midfielder Kenny McLean dropped to the bench.
The Reds showed real intent straight from kick-off with Rooney’s effort deflected wide from Ash Taylor’s knockdown and Stockley just unable to get on the end of the ball before it went out.
Stockley then had a header cleared off the line from Niall McGinn’s cross as the home side kept the pressure on, with Maribor looking to sit in and hit the Dons on the counter.
They almost did just that when skipper Marcos Tavares – who netted the winner against Celtic at Parkhead two years ago and scored three against Hibs – had a shot blocked by Taylor.
But the best chance of that lively opening spell fell to Rooney when Dare Vrsic made a mess of his pass and sent the Irishman clean through on goal.
However, Rooney just didn’t get enough power on his shot and Jasmin Handanovic saved.
Aberdeen got lucky at the other end when a sweeping move by the Slovenians culminated in Marwan Kabha wasting a brilliant chance as he
fired over from Denis Sme’s cut-back just eight yards out.
Kabha had been given the lowdown on Aberdeen by Celtic midfielder Nir Bitton but it was the Israeli who was the first name in referee Tore Hansen’s book for a foul on Graeme Shinnie.
The amount of chances passed up by the Dons started to mount with Rooney failing to get on the end of Taylor’s cross before McGinn volleyed wide from a good position.
Hayes had his name taken for a late challenge on Tavares but it was a clever foul as it halted a Maribor attack.
Brazilian stopper Rodrigo Defendi wasn’t so smart when he appeared to wrestle Rooney to the ground inside the box – but the referee was unmoved.
Aberdeen should have gone in ahead at the break and Handanovic pulled off a brilliant point-blank stop to push Stockley’s header over just two minutes before the interval. Joe Lewis didn’t have a save to make in the opening 45 minutes but after the restart he pulled off a smart stop to deny Vrsic.
Aberdeen continued to have the best chances and Stockley’s angled drive was turned round the post by Hendanovic after Marko Suler had missed Rooney’s cross .
Hayes was next to try his luck as he sent a powerful 20-yard effort just wide of the keeper’s left-hand post.
McInnes made a double change as McLean replaced Shinnie and Wes Burns came on for Stockley.
Rooney thought he had fired the Dons ahead only for a flag to cut short the celebrations and Novakovic then silenced Pittodrie when he beat Taylor before firing a fine finish beyond Lewis.
But Hayes pounced to give the Dons the goal their play deserved and offer hope for next week’s return.