3 Waterschei 1983

The tie against Waterschei is high on our list due to the significance and result.

It is easy to forget just how good a performance this was.

The Belgium’s on route had comfortably beaten FA Red Boys Differdange from Luxembourg and Danish outfit Boldklubben af 1893 but they had overcome Paris Saint-Germain at the Quarter Final stages. An even more impressive result when you consider they were 2-0 from the first leg. They won the return game 3-2 after extra time.

For Aberdeen, after their incredible comeback against Bayern Munich, to then win their first European semi-final in such an emphatic way typified what the Dons were all about back then.

The fevered atmosphere at Pittodrie helped Aberdeen to attack from the kick-off.

The Belgians, despite their impressive win over PSG in the quarter finals, along with Aberdeen were rank outsiders from the outset.

While they may have done the business so far in the competition, a packed Pittodrie was something completely different.

Within four minutes Aberdeen were two goals up in a whirlwind opening.

The Dons blitz began in the second minute when Doug Bell’s mazy run ended with Eric Black scoring from close range.

Then Neil Simpson slalomed his way through the Belgian defence as his shot wen in off Waterschei keeper Pudelko. One of the great Pittodrie European goals.

After the break the outstanding Bell was again in the thick of it as he set up McGhee to make it 3-0.

In 69 minutes Peter Weir scored with a header before Gudmundsson the Icelandic international pulled one back for the visitors.

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