Moscow deny Dons at Pittodrie.

Aberdeen’s European dream is still alive but the loss of an injury time goal in the first half denied them the win against a very good Russian side. Aberdeen went ahead in the 27th minute through a Diamond header but then conceded a similar goal with the last touch of the first half. Aberdeen fought well after the break but couldn’t find the breakthrough and now have a tough task to qualify from this group. A point in Madrid would help the cause, as it is not guaranteed that a win against Copenhagen in the last match will be enough.

Aberdeen kicked off but Moscow carved out the first half chance when Langfield had an easy save. A minute later Aberdeen won the first corner but it was well defended before Sone Aluko showed his skills and won a dangerous free kick 25 yards out. Unfortunately Severin’s effort failed to get past the wall and the danger was cleared. Good build up play in the 9th minute almost carved open the Moscow defence but Clark’s cross was scrambled clear. A minute later Langfield was forced to beat a shot away and Nicholson cleared the loose ball before any harm could be done.

A mistake from Considine in the 14th minute almost allowed Moscow in but he recovered well to force the goal kick. The Russians looked dangerous going forward as the game moved from end to end with both sides looking for the breakthrough. Aberdeen should have went ahead in the 23rd minute after Aluko had found space on the left. His cross was flapped out by the Moscow keeper and fell to Lee Miller. Unfortunately the striker drilled the ball wide from just inside the Moscow box. At the other end Severin conceded a free kick 28 yards out and Langfield made a fine save as he tipped the ball over the bar.

From the resultant corner Chris Clark was forced to head off the line but the Dons broke at pace and Nicholson and Aluko combined well to win a corner. When the corner was whipped in it was Zander Diamond who reacted first and bulleted the header into the net. Odemwingie fired a decent effort inches over on the half hour mark as Locomotiv looked to hit back. Aberdeen had a lucky break in the 39th minute when Sychev smacked the ball off the post with Langfield beaten. The Russians then won a free kick a minute later only 20 yards out but fortunately Odemwingie fired his effort well wide.

Aberdeen were dealt a major blow in injury time of the first half when the Dons finally succumbed to the increasing pressure as they scrambled the ball away for a corner. The ball was whipped in from the left and Ivanovic headed past Langfield despite the keeper getting a hand to it. Calderwood must have been bitterly disappointed and would have loved to get his team into the dressing room with the goal advantage.

Aberdeen won an early corner but the delivery was poor and failed to threaten the Russian defence. Locomotiv threatened in the 49th minute with a shot from the edge of the box that Langfield held comfortably. A minute later Langfield was again in action as the Moscow side continued to dominate. Severin had a half chance in the 55th minute but his shot was wide and not very handsome. Spahic collected the first yellow card in the 57th minute and two minutes later Severin had an effort blocked. Seconds later the Russian keeper made a hash of a clearance and Severin drilled the ball wide.

A bit of a rammy ensued after this but the referee was happy to settle it all with handshakes and it certainly got the crowd off their seats as Aberdeen looked to ease their way back into the match. Locomotiv won a corner in the 65th minute and a header from Sychev was looped on to the top of the goal. Calderwood made his first change in the 67th minute when Maguire replaced Clark. Odemwingie was booked for a stupid foul on Diamond three minutes later but the game was suffering from too many stoppages, as Herr Meyer became a little whistle happy.

Miller had a snap shot blocked in the 74th minute then Asatiani collected a yellow card as he brought Maguire crashing to the ground as he threatened. Once again the Dons failed to get the ball past the first defender and the chance was gone. A Dons corner three minutes later was again flapped away by the keeper and as Nicholson whipped the ball in again, Miller just failed to control it and the keeper gathered. Locomotiv then broke quickly and Langfield made a great save to keep the match level. The Dons then raced back up the park and the keeper did well to cut out a Maguire cross.

Aberdeen were now becoming vulnerable to the counter attack and with nine minutes remaining de Visscher replaced Aluko. A poor clearance from Diamond allowed Moscow to win a corner kick but fortunately it was defended well. Lovell replaced Miller with five minutes remaining and almost immediately Severin had another shot charged down. A minute later Aberdeen won a corner as Lovell threatened, but the keeper easily gathered a Diamond header. That was the Dons last chance as Locomotiv managed to spend the two minutes of injury time camped in the Dons half.