Aberdeen fans were finally reacquainted with the joy of celebrating their team scoring last night. There was to be no respite, however, from the dismal run of results which has heaped so much pressure on manager Jimmy Thelin as their UEFA Conference League campaign started with a defeat.
Jesper Karlsson’s first goal for the club ended a six-match goal drought and offered hope they could upset a highly-rated Shakhtar Donetsk side.
The Ukrainian outfit’s response was devastating, however, as strikes from Yehor Nazaryna, Lucas Ferreira and Pedro Henrique put them firmly in command.
It was a gutsy and much improved display from Thelin’s men in many ways but despite Nicky Devlin pulling a goal back to set up a frantic finish, they finished empty-handed once more.
Aberdeen played their part in a compelling contest but Shakhtar made their class tell and held off late pressure from the hosts.
The Dons can take some encouragement from the performance but now need to turn it into positive results domestically, starting at home to Dundee on Sunday.
Jesper Karlsson netted his first goal for his new club from the penalty spot early on
Manager Jimmy Thelin can take heart from his side’s display against the tournament favourites
Yehor Nazaryna deservedly pulled Shaktar Donetsk level shortly before the interval
Shakhtar are among the bookmakers’ favourites to go all the way and lift the Conference League trophy in Leipzig next May but it took Arda Turan’s side some time to provide evidence of that status.
It was a nervy start for the visitors as they came to terms with an aggressive approach from Aberdeen who settled quickly with the 3-5-2 system Thelin deployed as he attempted to give his team more of an attacking threat.
It took just eight minutes to bear fruit as their lengthy wait for a goal came to an end. Swedish winger Karlsson arrived with a big reputation when he signed on a season-long loan from Bologna and he was key to the breakthrough.
It was Karlsson’s in-swinging corner kick from the left which prompted Kaua Elias into a panicky attempt to cut out the danger at the near post.
Referee Duje Strukan didn’t spot the Shakhtar player clearly using his right arm to turn the ball behind but it only needed a cursory VAR review before he pointed to the spot.
Karlsson displayed poise and precision as he rifled the ball low to goalkeeper Dmytro Riznyk’s right and into the corner of the net.
The Aberdeen fans savoured the moment but it soon became apparent that this was an evening when their side would spend lengthy spells on the back foot.
As Shakhtar gradually built up a rhythm and started to dominate possession, they should have equalised when the unmarked Valeriy Bondar somehow shot wide from inside the six yard box as he latched onto Nazaryna’s corner from the left.
The Dons battled hard throughout but were ultimately beaten by the better team on the night
Marko Lazetic threatened to double Aberdeen’s lead in the 24th minute when the Croatian forward, making his first start for the Dons, turned cleverly on the edge of the box and curled in a shot which almost deceived Riznyk before he gathered it at the second attempt.
That was very much against the run of play by that stage, however, and there was another let-off for the Aberdeen defence when Marlon Gomez headed over from the corner of the six-yard box.
Technically excellent, Shakhtar were too elaborate for their own good at times as they probed for clear-cut openings. The feeling remained nonetheless that a leveller was on the way and it duly arrived seven minutes before the interval.
Nazaryna’s set piece proficiency was causing real problems and his corner from the right was fisted away by Dimitar Mitov but only as far as Pedrinho who swung the ball back in from the opposite flank.
Stuart Armstrong managed to get a touch on the ball but could only help it on to Nazaryna who thumped a shot across Mitov and in off the goalkeeper’s right hand post.
The half-time whistle came as a relief to Aberdeen but they immediately found themselves hemmed into their own half again when play resumed.
Shakhtar had found their groove and imposed their authority by taking the lead in the 54th minute. Aberdeen switched off at a Gomes cross from the left, allowing Ferreira to score with a free header.
Thelin’s men were being pulled all over the pitch and Shakhtar made it 3-1 with a superb team goal five minutes later.
Nicky Devlin headed home to give his side a lifeline going in to the closing stages
No home player touched the ball during a 22-pass move which ended with Henrique’s sweet first-time finish from around 14 yards.
It was hard to envisage a route back into the contest for Aberdeen but to their credit they rallied and gave the home fans renewed hope in the 69th minute.
Lazetic struck the crossbar with a magnificent shot on the turn and Devlin was on hand to head home the rebound from close range.
Aberdeen couldn’t find an equaliser but received a warm ovation at the final whistle from a support who can perhaps sense the green shoots of recovery.
