BRAVE DONS STILL AT BAYERN'S MERCY

 

(Image taken from Sky Sports)

 

The last time Aberdeen played European football in the second half of the season was in the quarter finals of the 1985/86 European Cup. Alex Ferguson was the manager, Jim Leighton in goal,Stewart McKimmie Willie Miller and Alex McLeish in central defence, Jim Bett in midfield and a young Joe Miller amongst the team's strikers. It didn't stop the Dons going out of the tournament on away goals after a 2-2 draw with Gothenberg though. That generation went one better in the old Cup Winners Cup in 1983/84 though, beating Ujpest 3-2 on aggregate.

That generation of Dons also have history against Bayern Munich, specifically the legendary 1982/83 Cup Winners Cup side. The first leg finished 0-0 in the Olympiastadion so it was up to a team that included Gordon Strachan and Mark McGhee with John Hewlitt coming off the bench to settle the tie from a blank sheet at Pittodrie. And despite the legends in the Bayern side the Dons turned it round with a McLeish header after an insane free kick before Hewitt hit the winner.

This time round, well let's face it, Bayern are never going to have a better shot at payback. The legends of '83 have been succeded by a fresh batch of starts only temporarilly slumming it outside the Champions League. The current Dons side would by rights get caned by Fergie's 80s squad but have overachevied in Europe this year. For this UEFA Cup 1st knockout round 1st leg match at Pittodrie it was Lee Mair right back, Alan Maybury left back, Diamond and Considine in central defence. Middleborough loanee Josh Walker was at right mid, Miller and Mackie up front. It was the biggest game of their careers.

Well the Dons decided to welcome Bayern back to Pittodrie with a battering ram, and though the Germans quickly responded and got the upper hand in terms of posession, the home defence held firm while in the 24th minute Walker curled the ball round the Bayern defence in open play and into the net. Bayern quickly replied in the 29th when Luca Toni headed on to Miroslav Klose who grabbed the equaliser and the Dons did well after that to stop the German giants from completing a first half turnaround. Instead, Aluko surged through in the 41st minute to put the Dons back in front and at half time Pittodrie was in dreamland!

The Dons were on the attack early on in the second half but again Bayern were quick to respond and the Bundesliga side wound up benefitting for a large slice of luck! A dodgy handball decision led to a 55th minute Hamit Altintop penalty and the Turk hit the net at the second attempt. After that Bayern pretty much took over, the Dons had barely any attacking opportunities but the defence still held firm so this can still arguably be filed down as one of Pittodrie's great European nights. Bayern have the away goals advantage though, this great UEFA Cup run may be coming to an end.

If the Dons do somehow pull off a miracle in Munich, they'll face the winner of the tie between Anderlecht and Bordeaux. The first leg took place at the Constant Vanden Stock Stadium. The first half was goalless though certainly fiery with the Belgium side starting off the better but after half time it was Bordeaux that opened the scoring through Ferreira Viera Jussi though it was Anderlect that had the last laugh, Jan Polak and Mbo Mpenza turning the game round.

Elsewhere, English Premiership sides were in action. Spurs faced Slavia Prague at the Evzena Rosicko Stadium. Dimitar Berbatov opened the scoring for Spurs with Robbie Keane making it two before half time. After that Spurs were looking to cruise their way through the second half but Slavia had other ideas with David Strihavka pulling one back. The home side couldn't find an equaliser though and Spurs look to have wrapped this tie up.

Everton faced SK Brann at the Brann Stadion. The first half was not the best quality football of all time, thanks mainly to the hosts lack of energy, The did put the ball in the net before half time, but only by fouling the Everton goalie so it didn't count. Leon Osman showed them how it should be done after half time but that didn't wake the Norwegians up either and so Everton just cruised their way to the finish line with Victor Anichebe getting their second, so the Toffees also look sorted.

Bolton faced Athletico Madrid at the Reebok Stadium. Bolton had the early attacking with the big names from La Liga looking rattled for most of the first half only really getting their act together just before half time. Bolton had annother attacking spell early in the second half but just as it looked like Athletico were about to finally take over, they went down to tenm men and El-Hadji Diouf hit what turned out to be the winner not long afterwards. This tie still looks too close to call though.

Aberdeen weren't the only SPL side in action either, Rangers faced Panathinaikos at Ibrox. The Greek side had the early attacking but the Gers gave as good as they got and Nacho Novo would have scored had it not been for Pana's desperate scrambling! The story continued into the second half with Walter Smith's side attacking without result and despite going all guns blazing late on, it was Pana who had the last shot of the game and the Blues have to file this down as a blown chance, it won't be so easy in Athens.

And next up we have the virtual final of the FA Cup

Click here to visit the football archive

Comments get emailed here

Click here to return to sports homepage

Click here to return to Matt G's homepage