Europe dream in tatters

Aberdeen suffered their heaviest home European defeat tonight as Mark McGhee was forced to watch a nightmare second half in his first match in charge. The new manager knew he had work to do, but he probably didn’t realise the extent of the job ahead of him. The teams looked evenly matched at the interval, but once Sigma had added a second following the award of a soft free kick the Dons fell apart and Sigma went on to score five in a match that will be remembered for all the wrong reasons..

The home crowd were right behind the Dons from the off and the players responded with a positive start as they looked to put the visitor’s on the back foot. Sigma won a free kick in the 3rd minute and attempted an audacious effort from 40 yards that went high and wide. A second free kick three minutes later caused problems before the Dons defence cleared their lines. After the early pressure from Aberdeen the Czech side were looking comfortable and enjoying most of the possession.

A ball across the face of the Aberdeen goal in the 11th minute caused a few flutters around the stadium as Petr just failed to connect. Two minutes later there was a real let off for Aberdeen as Young slipped up and Langfield had to look lively as he came to the edge of his box to block an effort that looked as if it had goal written all over it. These were nervous times for the Dons as the Czech side benefited from the competitive games they already had under their belt.

Sigma won a corner in the 18th minute and went ahead after Langfield initially made a save before Hubnik turned the loose ball into the net. The Dons should have levelled two minutes later after some wonderful play from Aluko had left his marker for dead. He then whipped in a cross that Foster should have buried, but somehow headed wide. In the 23rd minute McDonald won a free kick 20 yards out  and Charlie Mulgrew stepped forward to take charge. His left foot produced another moment of magic as he curled the ball into the corner of the net leaving the keeper clutching at fresh air.

Foster delivered a dangerous through ball a minute later and Mackie made sure the keeper knew he was lurking for any errors. The Dons won a corner in the 29th minute as they looked to be playing with renewed confidence. Mulgrew dropped the ball into the danger area, but it was cleared by the confident looking defence. Sigma then won a corner two minutes later, but Aluko smuggled the ball clear and broke forward. Mackie appeared to make a fair challenge on the keeper, but the referee didn’t agree and Drobisz was awarded a free kick after he had dropped the ball.

Sigma won another corner in the 37th minute and the ball fell to Horava on the edge of the box, but fortunately his effort was high and not very handsome. Three minutes later Aluko showed another neat touch, but his cross failed to match the earlier play. A minute before the break Aluko swung in another dangerous cross, but the ball was scrambled clear as the Dons put Sigma under pressure in the closing stages of the half.

Sigma won an early free kick after Duff was penalised, but the effort went well over. A minute later Janotka collected the first yellow card of the game after a cynical challenge on Foster. Langfield was out sharply to save in the 51st minute and a minute later the Czech keeper was scurrying across his goal line to push another Mulgrew free kick round the post. A great defensive header denied Miller seconds later as the Dons looked to try and grab a second goal.

Sigma went close on the hour mark as Petr steered a corner inches over the bar before Maguire replaced Mackie. Sigma were then awarded a controversial free kick in the 64th minute only 20 yards from goal. Only the referee appeared to see a hand ball, but the damage was done as Bajer hit a sweet free kick that Langfield had no chance of stopping. The referee then awarded another controversial free kick on the edge of the box, which the wall managed to block. Five minutes later Petr managed to latch on to a lucky break and fired the ball past an exposed Langfield.

A great ball was played through to Miller in the 73rd, but his first touch let him down and the chance was gone. A minute later Paton replaced Aluko, but the whole affair had gone flat after the quick double from Sigma. Langfield punched a corner clear in the 77th minute before the ball was collected and fired wide from distance. Foster was then booked for what looked a perfectly good challenge. Paton forced a corner two minutes later, but despite a good delivery no one was able to convert. Sigma went close again in the 82nd minute as the Dons were now being run ragged.

Substitute Ordos made it 4-1 a minute later after he turned Mulgrew and stroked the ball past Langfield. Aberdeen should have pulled one back in the 85th minute when McDonald had an easy chance from close range, but screwed his shot wide. The referee faced the wrath of the fans again as he awarded another soft free kick 20 yards out and Aberdeen escaped further punishment as the Ball crashed off the woodwork. Sigma added a fifth in the 90th minute and a minute later the keeper comfortably held a Mulgrew free kick as the Dons Euro dream lay in tatters..