Cup defeat in thriller

Aberdeen crashed out of the Co-op Insurance Cup at the third round stage for the second year running. After dominating the play the Dons lost a goal late in the first half to some poor defending. When Dundee made it 2-0 early in the second half the Dons looked down and out. The team showed great character however and two goals from Paton put the match into extra time. Once again the Dons looked in control, but an uncharacteristic mistake from Langfield allowed Dundee a third goal and despite an onslaught by the Dons they couldn’t pull it back.

Aberdeen started well as Darren Mackie won the first corner of the match in the opening twenty seconds, but the set play was easily defended. A minute later Mulgrew set up Lee Miller and his volley just went over the top. Aberdeen had started well and Mulgrew sent in another testing free kick in the third minute, but Miller headed wide. The game was held up for a few minutes after Cowan and Grassi collided before the Dons won another free kick in the 7th minute. However Mulgrew failed to threaten from the set play.

Forsyth went down rather easily in the 8th minute as McDonald challenged him in the box, but the referee was unimpressed. Two minutes later Grassi was forced to leave the field and Pawlett replaced him. Almost immediately Aberdeen went close as a McDonald effort forced the home defence to scramble the ball clear. Another Aberdeen corner followed in the 13th minute as the enforced change failed to upset their rhythm. Given the Dons dominance of the opening fifteen minutes Mark McGhee would be hoping for a goal to show for their play.

Dundee were given too much time and space in the 18th minute, but Langfield was alert as he gathered the ball. A minute later Crawford whipped the ball into the box and Miller controlled well, but hit his shot inches over. A snapshot from Pawlett in the 22nd minute was well held by Douglas before Dundee won a free kick that resulted in the home side’s first corner. Dundee failed to threaten from the set play and at the other end Mackie was denied by Malone as the Dons won another corner.

Douglas was forced to punch the ball clear as Mackie pounced on the Mulgrew delivery. The keeper picked up an injury in the process and was replaced by Bullock. Pawlett and Mulgrew combined well in the 28th minute, but Mark Kerr failed to finish the promising move. Pawlett went on a great run on the half hour mark and as he skinned Klimpl the Dundee man blatantly fell over and the referee was too easily conned. A minute later McDonald had a chance blocked then Pawlett was brought down by Cowan as he started to cause the home defence problems.

The Dons failed to capitalise but Miller got behind the defence in the 36th minute, but once again the final ball failed to find a team mate. After dominating the first half Aberdeen were caught with a sucker punch as Malone headed a Harkins free kick beyond Langfield. The marking was poor and Aberdeen now had a real game on their hand. Pawlett won another free kick in the 42nd minute but a promising delivery from Mulgrew was headed clear.

In the final minute of the half Lee Miller hit the side netting after good build up play, but he was flagged offside. In the dying seconds Harkins delivered another great free kick and fortunately the free header went over the top. Seconds later Mackie took a quick free kick and the keeper was forced into a fine save from Pawlett.

Dundee almost made it 2-0 in the 47th minute as a bad mistake opened the door for McMenamin and not for the first time Langfield kept the Dons in a game. Dundee won a dangerous free kick a minute later and Higgins curled the ball inches over the bar. A slip by Ifil in the 50th minute allowed McMenamin one-on-one with Langfield and Aberdeen had a lucky break as the ball went wide. The Dons had made a nervous start to the second half and could have been out of the game by now.

Aberdeen were all at sea in the 55th minute as Paton started the move that ended with Forsyth slipping the ball past Langfield to put Dundee 2-0 ahead and into the driving seat. Mackie and Crawford were immediately replaced by Maguire and Paton as the Dons were left with a mountain to climb. A Foster free kick was headed back into the danger area by Miller, but the Dons couldn’t work an opportunity. Higgins went close to making it three just after the hour mark as Dundee continued to play with confidence, but Aberdeen clawed their way back into the match in the 63rd minute.

Once again it was Charlie Mulgrew who proved to be the inspiration as his corner was whipped in and Paton turned the ball into the net. Aberdeen started pushing for a second, but Pawlett managed to earn himself a booking for a word out of turn. Good play from Paton in the 66th minute saw the youngster deliver a decent cross, but McDonald headed over the bar. Four minutes later McMenamin won a corner as Ifil recovered to block an effort. Langfield claimed the ball and looked to get the Dons going quickly.

From Langfield’s throw Lee Miller released Paton, but the Dundee keeper did well to halt the Dons progress. The referee finally penalised Klimpl in the 73rd minute as he committed one foul too many when he took Mark Kerr out of the play. Cowan and Bullock collided with each other a couple of minute’s later and required some treatment as time slowly slipped away. Maguire had a half chance in the 78th minute, but Dundee won a corner a minute later that fortunately came to nothing.

Paton and Pawlett combined well in the 82nd minute, but the final ball was disappointing. Three minutes later a Foster throw in was headed on by Miller before Maguire had an effort blocked. There were shouts for a penalty in the 86th minute as Maguire went down, but nothing was given as the Dons continued to push for the equaliser. Maguire should have levelled a minute later, but he nicked the post with the goal at his mercy. Michael Paton finally made the breakthrough in the 88th minute when he was set up by Maguire and curled the ball into the corner of the net.

Kerr almost grabbed a sensational winner in the 90th minute as he played a neat one-two with Miller, but couldn’t finish. At the other end Foster slipped up and presented Dundee with a chance. The game had really come alive and there were another two chances in injury time for Mulgrew at one end and Griffiths at the other before the referee blew his whistle to herald extra time.

After the hectic finish to the second half extra time started at a slower pace. Maguire looked to have broken into the Dundee box in the 94th minute but the referee stopped play for a free kick, much to the wonderment of everyone in the ground. Three minutes later Mulgrew made a good interception and set the Dons forward, but the move ended with Miller sending the ball well wide. A Mulgrew corner in the 98th minute caused problems and a second and third followed quickly before Dundee set off on the counter attack allowing Clark to send the ball wide.

The red army were getting behind the team at this stage and Paton almost grabbed his hat trick in the 102nd minute as he went on a great run and forced a fine save from the Dundee keeper. At the other end Dundee forced a corner and a fumble by Langfield allowed Griffiths to score in the 104th minute just as the Dons were looking in control. Aberdeen tried to hit back through a Mulgrew corner, but the ball went too long as the whistle went for half time.

Aberdeen went all out for another goal as the teams turned around. Pawlett did well in the 106th minute, but there was no one there for his cut back. At the other end Griffiths could have sealed the win, but sent the ball over the top. Dundee had renewed confidence and MacKenzie was enjoying a fine game at the heart of the Dundee defence and was winning everything in the air. Considine set up Miller in the 115th minute, but he sent his shot over the bar. Ifil won a free kick with two minutes remaining. He released Foster but McDonald was unable to convert the cross. Despite a huge onslaught the Dons couldn’t find a way through and made an early exit from the competition.