Aberdeen vs Strasbourg

By Wullie McDonald Aberdeen’s Conference League campaign came to an end at Pittodrie, and it will sting. Not because they were outclassed, but because they had enough moments – big ones – to take something from Strasbourg, yet couldn’t turn territory into goals.

The night began with real purpose. Aberdeen started sharply, pinning Strasbourg back in brutal conditions and forcing two early corners. Mats Knoester thought he’d given the Dons the lead with a back-post header, only for VAR to intervene and chalk it off for the faintest handball. It was harsh, but technically correct, and it set the tone for a frustrating evening.

Marko Lazetic passed up the best of Aberdeen’s first-half chances, twice getting himself into excellent positions but lacking conviction with the finish. Then, right when the home side were on top, came the sucker punch. Aberdeen’s back line split open, Nicky Devlin and Jack Milne too far apart, and Martial Godo calmly rolled in the opener completely against the run of play.

Strasbourg threatened to kill the tie early in the second half, but Dimitar Mitov refused to let it happen. The Aberdeen goalkeeper produced a string of top-class saves – one from Guela Doué, another from a deflected effort off Milne, and then one in stoppage time when chaos broke out over a penalty.

Devlin’s late tumble onto Godo gifted Strasbourg a spot-kick. The visitors sent on Joaquin Panichelli to take it, only for Ismael Doukouré to overrule him and grab the ball himself. It backfired badly. Mitov saved, Pittodrie roared, and Aberdeen’s hope flickered… but only briefly.

Despite a late push, Strasbourg saw the game out and Aberdeen ran out of time. Over the piece, the Dons had enough pressure, enough half-chances, and enough moments of encouragement to believe they could stay alive in the competition. What they didn’t have was the moment of quality in front of goal that Strasbourg found.

Aberdeen exit the Conference League with their heads high, if not with the result they deserved.