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Dons Destroy Danes

20 December 2007

Smith sets up big win

The Bayern Munich “night to remember” now has a serious contender after Copenhagen were demolished by Aberdeen in a dramatic second half performance at Pittodrie. The scoring started in the 47th minute with a brilliant finish by Jamie Smith as he lifted the ball over the keeper from 30 yards out. He then celebrated his 27th birthday in style with a fabulous second strike eight minutes later. When Antonsson turned the ball into his own net in the 69th minute the party kicked in and Clark added the icing on to the cake with nine minutes remaining. Pittodrie hasn’t seen the likes for many years and this result leaves many with egg on their face.

Aberdeen kicked off in a cacophony of noise but it was the Danes who created the first chance when the home side failed to clear their lines and Allback sent shot inches over. At the other end a Severin throw in caused a few problems before Nicholson fired the ball high and wide. Copenhagen won the first corner in the 4th minute but Gravgaard headed the ball well wide of the target. A minute later a Miller head flick found Aluko deep in the box before the ball was scrambled clear. Seconds later Diamond found Miller in acres of space but the striker screwed his shot well wide when he really should have done better.

Hutchison went close in the 8th minute when he found plenty of space on the edge of the box and fired inches over. Aberdeen then won their first corner in the 11th minute and Byrne headed wide of the target. A long throw for the Danes two minutes later caused problems as it skidded across the front of the goal evading everyone. Aluko’s persistence paid off in the 16th minute when the Dons won a free kick wide left, but as Nicholson fired in the cross the referee blew for an infringement. Miller was released on the left and should have whipped the ball across goal but attempted to cut it back but only found a defender.

The Danish captain Gravgaard collected the first yellow card of the game for a nasty challenge on Miller and from the resultant free kick the ball broke in the centre of the box with no Dons players in attendance and as it broke outside the box Severin fired wide. Copenhagen broke quickly in the 27th minute and Langfield was forced into a save from a Gronkjaer drive. Diamond conceded a corner on the half hour mark, but Langfield gathered easily and released Aluko on the right only for the stand side assistant to flag for a very soft free kick against the Englishman.

Smith latched on to a poor clearance in the 33rd minute and had his effort blocked before Sionko broke at the other end and went down easily under a fair challenge but failed to con the referee. A minute later Severin fired a dangerous ball across the face of the goal, but again failed to find a colleague to make the vital touch. Allback then fired the ball into the side netting after another speedy break from the visitor’s. Nicholson then collected a yellow card for a late challenge in the 38th minute and Wurtz followed him into the book a minute later after a late challenge on Severin. Five minutes from the break Nicholson won a free kick wide right, but Christiansen comfortably collected Aluko’s delivery.

Aberdeen took a sensational lead two minutes after the break when a long clearance from Langfield was missed by a defender and fell to Jamie Smith who hit the ball into the top corner of the net out of the grasp of Christiansen in the Copenhagen goal. Two minutes later Zander Diamond hit the side netting but had already been flagged offside. Copenhagen looked to hit back quickly but the Dons defence stood firm and they doubled their advantage in the 55th minute when Jamie Smith latched on to a Miller through ball and calmly fired past the keeper to send the red army into raptures.

Byrne was the hero two minutes later when he raced back to block an Allback effort. Foster replaced Aluko in the 59th minute but the Dons were still forcing the game despite their two-goal advantage. Clark made a tremendous run down the left in the 64th minute but his cross failed to find a red shirt. A minute later Smith had a glorious chance to secure his hat trick, but with his easiest chance he fired inches wide of the target. The Danes won a corner in the 67th minute but after the referee ordered a re-take Langfield punched the ball well clear. The Dons fans were then in heaven in the 69th minute when they added a third goal.

Lee Miller did the donkeywork on the right and as he fired the ball across the face of the goal the unfortunate Antonsson could do nothing but turn the ball into his own net. Chris Maguire then replaced the goal hero Jamie Smith who unsurprisingly was given a standing ovation as he left the field. Copenhagen were determined to save face and in the 76th minute Brazilian substitute Ailton smashed the ball off the post with Langfield beaten. Another effort went wide a minute later before Maguire broke on the left and almost created another own goal with a low cross that was whipped into the near post. There were appeals for a spot kick when Miller went down as the keeper challenged him and it was clear that the Danish defender made no attempt to play the ball, but was simply intent in taking Miller out of the play.

It may have proved crucial at 0-0 but at the end of the day it mattered little and it was the only mistake the Portugese referee made all evening. The game was wrapped up in the 81st minute when Richard Foster tapped in at the far post after Maguire had fired the ball low across the face of the goal. The fans thoroughly enjoyed the closing nine minutes as the team comfortably kept the Danes at bay and capped a brilliant night.

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