MOTHERWELL 2 ABERDEEN 0 Saturday 27 September 2025 William Hill Premiership Fir Park Referee: Ryan Lee
It was defeat again for a much improved Dons, two goals in added time at the end of a tight game seeing Aberdeen beaten in a game which they had opportunities to win.
Following Tuesday’s defeat at Tannadice, Jimmy Thelin made six changes to his side with Alexander Jensen, Alfie Dorrington, Sivert Heltne Nilsen and Nicolas Milanovic dropping to the bench, with Dante Polvara and Stuart Armstrong missing from the matchday squad. Into the side came Nicky Devlin, playing his 100th game for the Dons, Graeme Shinnie, Adil Aouchiche, Jack Milne, Ante Palaversa and fit again Kristers Tobers, starting his first game of the season. Leighton Clarkson and Marko Lazetic returned to the bench, Kusini Yengi and Gavin Molloy missing out.
After winning 1-0 at Pittodrie in the Premier Sports Cup last Saturday, Motherwell named an unchanged team.
Following a minute’s applause in memory of former Motherwell man Bobby Graham, the game got underway in pouring rain at Fir Park. The Dons were nearly in front after 40 seconds. Emmanuel Gyamfi was away down the left and his perfectly flighted cross found Kevin Nisbet. He met the ball nicely six yards out, but Ward was able to tip the header over the bar.
A clever header on from Jesper Karlsson had Nisbet on goal again, but his low shot was well held by Ward in the third minute. Nonetheless, it was a positive start from Aberdeen. Karlsson had a shot blocked harmlessly towards Ward after 11 minutes, then Gyamfi blasted one wide after neat approach play from Karlsson as the Dons continued to impress.
There was concern for the Dons on 25, Dimitar Mitov coming quickly off his line to clear from Maswanhise, the two colliding and Mitov looking as if he’d taken a sore one, but he was soon back on his feet.
Said had the Steelmen’s first real crack ay goal in the 32nd minute, running forward from halfway before blasting well wide of the target. Mats Knoester was booked a minute later for a foul on the same man.
Mitov went down again on 35 with the ball nowhere near him, requiring treatment on the industry sustained against Maswanhise. Fortunately, he was soon back on his feet. He immediately took a long free-kick that was helped on to Aouchiche. The ball sat up nicely for him, and he caught a fierce volley that Ward did well to parry away.
The Dons were almost in on 43 only for Devlin’s header to be cleared off the line by Watt. The move began in Aberdeen’s half, Palaversa and Shinnie combining well, the skipper and Nisbet then putting Karlsson away. At the byline, he chipped the ball to the back post where it was put back across goal by Nisbet’s header. Devlin came onto it to head goalwards from eight yards, but Watt made a fine block to save his side.
In added time, Devlin’s low cross was nudged wide of goal by Nisbet, ward colliding with Gyamfi as it curled behind.
HALF-TIME: MOTHERWELL 0 ABERDEEN 0
Aberdeen brought on Topi Keskinen and Alfie Dorrington for Gyamfi and Knoester at the break.
Tobers and Charles-Cook had a coming together in the first minute of the half which required lengthy treatment for the Aberdeen man. Tobers was booked for a challenge on Charles-Cook in the 55thminute. From the resultant free-kick, Watt’s dangerous delivery arced through the box and just wide.
Another double change followed for the Dons on the hour, Clarkson and Jensen replacing Shinnie and Tobers. Devlin took the armband as he moved to take up position as the right centre-half of the three.
Mitov made a brilliant save from point blank range to keep things level from Stamatelopoulos. He was all alone in the box ten yards out to get on the end of a cross having fouled Devlin off the ball in the build up to the chance in the 63rd minute.
A ball over the top from Clarkson had Aouchiche in on goal on 71, but as he headed into the penalty area, he was barged to the ground by Longelo, the referee seeing it as a shoulder charge and taking no action. As ‘Well broke from there, Palaversa was booked for a foul. Motherwell replaced O’Donnell with Koutroumbis three minutes later.
Motherwell had another golden chance on 79. An unlucky ricochet from Aouchiche’s clearance ricocheted back into the centre of the six yard box but Stamatelopoulos somehow put his diving header wide of goal.
Lazetic replaced Nisbet for Aberdeen’s last change, Motherwell responding by bringing on Osong for Charles-Cook.
The Dons weren’t far away in the last minute of normal time. Devlin played forward to Karlsson who produced a neat flick to send Keskinen sprinting away at inside-left. Cutting inside, he shot from a tight angle, the ball flying into the side netting.
A minute later, Lazetic was sent clear with a chance to win it, but with defenders coming back to cover, he delayed and eventually smeared his shot wide of the target from 20 yards out.
Instead, it was Motherwell who had the winner in the 92nd minute, Mitov saw the ball squirm past him and in. Motherwell came down the Aberdeen left and played in to Koutroumbis on the edge of the area. His shot seemed to wrongfoot Mitov and he could only paw at the ball with his left hand as it snuck underneath it and in. Disaster for the Dons.
The Steelmen immediately made a double change, Halliday and Balmer coming on for Welsh and Said.
Osong danced into the box on the break on 95 and fell under Dorrington’s challenge, VAR eventually sending the referee to the monitor. A penalty was given, Stamatelopoulos stepping up to smash the ball straight down the middle to seal things.
MOTHERWELL: Ward, O’Donnell (Koutroumbis 74), Gordon, Welsh (Balmer 90+4), Longelo, Fadinger, Watt, Maswanhise, Said (Halliday (90+4), Charles-Cook (Osong 85), Stamatelopoulos.
Subs not used: Oxborough, Ross, McAllister, McColm, Priestman.
Goals: Koutroumbis (90+2), Stamatelopoulos (90+7 (pen))
ABERDEEN: Mitov, Devlin, Knoester (Dorrington 46), Milne, Tobers (Jensen 60), Gyamfi (Keskinen 46), Shinnie (Clarkson 60), Palaversa, Karlsson, Aouchiche, Nisbet (Lazetic 80).
Subs not used: Suman, Bilalovic, Heltne Nilsen, Milanovic.
BOOKED: Knoester, Tobers, Palaversa.
