Aberdeen take Eintracht scalp to end 16-year wait

5 months ago 116

By Amy CanavanBBC Scotland

Last updated on 3 minutes ago.From the section European Football

Aberdeen v Eintracht FrankfurtEster Sokler's fine finish secured victory for Aberdeen in their final group game

Aberdeen took the scalp of Bundesliga heavyweights Eintracht Frankfurt to conclude their Europa Conference League campaign with a first European group-stage victory in nearly 16 years.

The Scottish Premiership side had their backs against the wall for the majority of the first half against a side who thrashed Bayern Munich at the weekend.

But Pittodrie erupted when Duk slid in his third goal in the competition, sweeping in Shayden Morris's low cross from the right.

A more progressive second-half performance was capped by Ester Sokler's cute finish to send Barry Robson's side into Sunday's Viaplay Cup final against Rangers full of confidence.

Despite the victory, Aberdeen are out of Europe having finished third in Group G, while Eintracht progress in second spot in the group.

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With Sunday's Hampden showpiece in mind, Robson made eight changes and hoped the "freshness" of his young team could upset Eintracht's rhythm.

His hopes were far from realised, with Aberdeen failing to garner anything resembling a chance in their visitors box for much of the first half.

Eintracht had nothing to show for their dominance, though, with their profligacy punished moments before the break by Duk.

In a far more balanced second period, the hosts discovered their own groove.

Substitute Nicky Devlin claimed for a penalty but it was quickly forgotten when Dante Polvara sent a teasing ball over-the-top for Sokler to cushion in.

More to follow.

Line-ups

Aberdeen

Formation 5-4-1

24Roos28MilneSubstituted forDevlinat 71'minutes33Rubezic27MacDonald6GartenmannSubstituted forJensenat 62'minutes15McGarrySubstituted forHayesat 78'minutes20MorrisSubstituted forMcGrathat 71'minutes21Polvara8Barron23Duncan11Henriques de Barros LopesSubstituted forSoklerat 63'minutes

Substitutes

2Devlin4Shinnie5Jensen7McGrath10Clarkson14Guèye17Hayes18R Williams19Sokler30Dadia31Doohan32Marshall

Frankfurt

Formation 4-1-4-1

1TrappSubstituted forGrahlat 45'minutes47Baum4KochSubstituted forSilva Meloat 75'minutes5Smolcic29Nkounkou20Hasebe23Hauge27GötzeSubstituted forKnauffat 60'minutes16Larsson26Dina EbimbeSubstituted forAaronsonat 9'minutesBooked at 90mins18NgankamSubstituted forFerriat 75'minutes

Substitutes

3Pacho24Buta30Aaronson33Grahl35Silva Melo36Knauff42Gauer48Ferri

Referee:Miguel Bértolo Nogueira

Live Text

Match ends, Aberdeen 2, Eintracht Frankfurt 0.

Second Half ends, Aberdeen 2, Eintracht Frankfurt 0.

Hrvoje Smolcic (Eintracht Frankfurt) wins a free kick in the defensive half.

Foul by Ester Sokler (Aberdeen).

Foul by Niels Nkounkou (Eintracht Frankfurt).

Jamie McGrath (Aberdeen) wins a free kick in the defensive half.

Paxten Aaronson (Eintracht Frankfurt) is shown the yellow card for a bad foul.

Foul by Paxten Aaronson (Eintracht Frankfurt).

Jamie McGrath (Aberdeen) wins a free kick in the defensive half.

Attempt blocked. Jens Petter Hauge (Eintracht Frankfurt) right footed shot from the right side of the box is blocked. Assisted by Elias Baum.

Corner, Eintracht Frankfurt. Conceded by Connor Barron.

Offside, Eintracht Frankfurt. Paxten Aaronson is caught offside.

Attempt blocked. Ansgar Knauff (Eintracht Frankfurt) left footed shot from outside the box is blocked. Assisted by Paxten Aaronson.

Substitution, Aberdeen. Jonny Hayes replaces James McGarry because of an injury.

Substitution, Eintracht Frankfurt. Nacho Ferri replaces Jessic Ngankam.

Substitution, Eintracht Frankfurt. Tuta replaces Robin Koch.

Goal! Aberdeen 2, Eintracht Frankfurt 0. Ester Sokler (Aberdeen) right footed shot from outside the box to the high centre of the goal. Assisted by Dante Polvara with a through ball.

Elias Baum (Eintracht Frankfurt) wins a free kick in the defensive half.

Foul by Ryan Duncan (Aberdeen).

Foul by Jessic Ngankam (Eintracht Frankfurt).

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Aberdeen

Squad number24Player nameRoos

Squad number28Player nameMilne

Squad number33Player nameRubezic

Squad number27Player nameMacDonald

Squad number6Player nameGartenmann

Squad number15Player nameMcGarry

Squad number20Player nameMorris

Squad number21Player namePolvara

Squad number8Player nameBarron

Squad number23Player nameDuncan

Squad number11Player nameDuk

Squad number2Player nameDevlin

Squad number5Player nameJensen

Squad number7Player nameMcGrath

Squad number17Player nameHayes

Squad number19Player nameSokler

Eintracht Frankfurt

Squad number1Player nameTrapp

Squad number47Player nameBaum

Squad number4Player nameKoch

Squad number5Player nameSmolcic

Squad number29Player nameNkounkou

Squad number20Player nameHasebe

Squad number23Player nameHauge

Squad number27Player nameGötze

Squad number16Player nameLarsson

Squad number26Player nameDina Ebimbe

Squad number18Player nameNgankam

Squad number30Player nameAaronson

Squad number33Player nameGrahl

Squad number35Player nameTuta

Squad number36Player nameKnauff

Squad number48Player nameFerri

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