ABERDEEN 1 DUNDEE UNITED 1 Saturday 27 December 2025 SPFL Premiership Pittodrie Attendance: 19,741 Referee: Calum Scott
It was a frustrating end to 2025 for Aberdeen at Pittodrie, unable to break down a stubborn Dundee United rearguard despite having a lot of the ball throughout the 90 minutes.
There were three changes to the Aberdeen side that lost late on at Celtic last Sunday. Marko Lazetic and Alexander Jensen were on the bench, with Dylan Lobban suspended. Into the starting XI came Graeme Shinnie, playing his 400th Premiership game, Dante Polvara and Kevin Nisbet.
Dundee United drew 1-1 with Hibs last Saturday and there were three changes to their side with Bert Esselink, Iurie Iovu and Dario Naamo in for Ross Graham, Luca Stephenson and Ryan Strain.
It was a frenetic start to the final fixture of 2025 at Pittodrie, the Dons shading the opening minutes, a primacy underlined by Stuart Armstrong getting the game’s first shot on target after eight minutes. He couldn’t get enough on his effort from 20 yards to discomfort Richards though.
United had the ball in the net on 11, Dimitar Mitov looking to clear from his hands, his kick cannoning into Fatah, the ball bouncing back into the Aberdeen goal. The referee penalised the United man for impeding the goalkeeper as he tried to clear, no goal.
Adil Aouchiche had the supporters off their seats after a quarter of an hour, dummying a defender and accelerating towards goal, but his shot across the face was always going wide.
Midway through the half, great combination work by Shinnie, Aouchiche and Karlsson opened United up down the left, culminating in Karlsson working himself just enough space to fire in a shot from 20 yards, Richards producing a fine save to his left. The Dons kept the visitors penned in with a string of corners in the following minutes, but they couldn’t fashion another big opportunity amid a congested penalty area.
After 29 minutes of Aberdeen dominance, it was United who grabbed the goal with a sharp counter-attack. Nicky Devlin got caught under a high ball forward, Fatah picking his pocket 30 yards out from goal. He ran on into the box, cut inside away from Jack Milne and finished calmly, underneath Mitov.
HALF-TIME: ABERDEEN 0 DUNDEE UNITED 1
Shinnie was almost in with the equaliser, five minutes into the second half. Esselink missed a clearance in the box, Shinnie anticipating it and chasing beyond him, but Richards produced an excellent save from the Aberdeen skipper at the near post.
Esselink was booked two minutes later for scything Nisbet down just inside the United half. Polvara and Keskinen made way for Lazetic and Kenan Bilalovic after 56 minutes, Aberdeen switching to a back four.
On 58, Sapsford was away on the break, accelerating away from the Dons’ defence but his effort at goal was woeful and Aberdeen escaped. There were claims for handball at the other end a minute later, Shinnie checking inside, the ball seemingly catching the hand of Iovu, but there was nothing doing.
On the hour, Aberdeen were level. Aouchiche was the instigator, creating a yard of space for himself to shoot across goal from the edge of the area. Richards went down to save but he spilled the ball at Karlsson’s feet to give him a simple chance to level things up from six yards.
Aouchiche was booked on 64 for pulling the shirt of Fatah, then Watters was replaced by Dolcek. Ferry was booked on 69 for thumping into Devlin off the ball.
Nisbet, Shinnie and Bilalovic all had shots at goal inside five seconds after 70 minutes, but none were decisive as United held firm at the back. They made another change on 73, Sapsford going off for Moller.
The Dons made a second pair of changes when Aouchiche and Nisbet were replaced by Milanovic and Kjartansson on 83. Moller was booked for hacking down Devlin a minute later and was lucky to avoid a second card for some fiery dissent. Fatah was then replaced by Trapanovski. Armstrong was the next yellow card for blocking off Trapanovski a minute later as the game lost all semblance of shape for a spell.
A smart turn and shot from Dolcek caused a nervy moment on 87, Milne getting a deflection on it to turn it wide. It was Milne again making a vital block on Naamo’s shot from the resulting corner.
Kjartansson almost won it as we headed into four minutes of added time, the ball dropping for him nicely 25 yards out. A crisp, swerving strike looked awkward, but Richards was able to shovel it away to safety and preserve United’s point.
Aberdeen: Mitov, Keskinen (Bilalovic 56), Devlin, Knoester, Milne, Shinnie, Polvara (Lazetic 56), Aouchiche (Milanovic 83), Armstrong, Karlsson, Nisbet (Kjartansson 83).
Subs not used: Suman, Jensen, Gyamfi, Heltne Nilsen, Clarkson.
Goal: Karlsson (60)
Booked: Aouchiche, Armstrong.
Dundee United: Richards, Sevelj, Esselink, Keresztes, Iovu, Sibbald, Naamo, Ferry, Sapsford (Moller 73), Fatah (Trapanovski 84), Watters (Dolcek 65).
Subs not used: Kucherenko, Adams, Cleall-Harding, Eskesen, Stirton, Constable.Goal: Fatah (30)
Booked: Esselink, Ferry, Moller
