Akio leveller at the death spoils Duk’s royal celebrations
ROSS COUNTY 1 Akio (90) ABERDEEN 1
Lopes (88)
Gutted Jim Goodwin admits that Aberdeen’s Dingwall draw felt like a defeat after a late Luis Lopes wonder-goal was wiped out five minutes into stoppage time.
Ross County substitute William Akio scrambled in the leveller to rescue a point for the Highland hosts in a fiercely-contested match of few chances.
The point took the Dons up to third in the table, while County also climbed a place to 10th.
Goodwin was frustrated, believing his side held sway through most of the 90 minutes without punishing County.
But the Dons boss felt the impact of Portuguese striker Lopes, known as Duk, was a big positive.
Goodwin stressed: “I felt the way the second half was going it looked like our goal would be decisive.
“We played well in the first half and controlled it but we were very good but we didn’t pepper the keeper’s goal.
“The second half was scrappy and it became a dogfight.
“It looked like it would fizzle out, but it was a brilliant goal from Duk.
“People will talk about the finish, but it was the way he takes it on the halfway line, feeds it wide then bursts a gut to get into the middle.
“The finish is out of this world but the build-up play pleased me most.
“Duk is chomping at the bit to start but Miovski has the jersey and we play with one striker.
“We have made progress, but when you score so late it feels like a defeat.”
County made six changes from the 4-1 home beating to Celtic, with Jack Baldwin, Yan Dhanda and Ross Callachan returning from bans.
From the first whistle, Goodwin’s men came hurtling out of the traps.
Jonny Hayes struck from distance to force the first of two corners in quick succession and County were almost caught on the counter-attack after eight minutes.
Liverpool loanee Leighton Clarkson was alert to send Vicente Besuijen tearing away down the right flank before the Dutchman drew a strong save from Ross Laidlaw.
With grit and organisation, County’s central defensive pair Baldwin and Alex Iacovitti slowly drew the sting out of Aberdeen’s attack towards half-time.
The hosts, though, had offered little of substance in the away penalty box and Mackay made two attacking changes at the break.
Canadian summer signing Akio completed his unexpectedly early return from a knee injury, joined by Kazeem Olaigbe, with Dhanda and Jordy Hiwula exiting.
Past the hour mark, it was scrappy and wasteful from both sides, with Clarkson perhaps lucky to escape with a booking for a scything challenge on County’s Callum Johnson.
Late substitute Matty Kennedy almost had an instant impact in 85 minutes cutting in from the left and forcing a near-post save from Laidlaw.
But then with two minutes left, Hayes’ darting run sliced the hosts open down the left for a brilliant opener.
From the low cross, Luis Lopes flicked the ball high and then completed an acrobatic swing of the boot in the air to arc the ball in the top of the net.
The Portuguese attacker was then booked for removing his shirt in celebration as Dons fans spilled onto the pitch.
The celebrations proved premature.
A late retaliatory County assault in stoppage time paid off from a corner.
Amid absolute chaos in the Dons’ box, with several blocks, Canadian William Akio swept in the leveller to salvage a point.