Aberdeen showed their powers of recovery at Pittodrie as they survived a rapid double from HNK Rijeka before hitting back to secure their place in the third qualifying round of the Europa League.
Rijeka, so threatening in a whirlwind opening 20 minutes a week ago, managed just five minutes of real concern at Pittodrie but when the questions were asked of the Dons, they found the answers.
The Croats had spoken of belief in the build-up to the game and claimed they would do their talking on the pitch. Thanks to Aberdeen, it rumbled briefly but in the end amounted to little more than a whisper.
The Dons manager made one change to the side which won 3-0 at Kantrida Stadium a week ago with Kenny McLean, who came off the bench to score his first goal for the club, replacing Peter Pawlett, who scored the second goal, in the starting 11.
Rijeka coach Matjaz Kek made five changes to the side which lost to the Dons.
Out went goalkeeper Ivan Vargic, captain Anas Sharbini, Marko Leskovic, Bekim Balaj and Ivan Tomecak as Kek rang the changes. Their replacements were Simon Sluga in goal, Stefan Ristovski, Roman Bezjak, Matej Mitrovic and Odise Roshi with Brazilian attacker Moises Lima given the captaincy.
Given Aberdeen’s three goal lead the Croats had no option but to try to set the tempo from the outset and it was equally predictable that the Dons should try to slow the pace when they had possession.
Herein lay the major problem for Kek’s side. Their success in Europe in the past two years has been built upon overwhelming teams at home and doing enough to progress despite their poor away record.
A miserly four wins in the last 20 European away matches summed up the size of the task facing the Prva Liga side.
As far as the two schools of thought go, it was the home side which had the greater success, pressing high up the pitch and effectively neutralising the attacking threat of the visitors as effectively as they did in the final hour in Croatia last week.
It was also clear the pace of Jonny Hayes and Niall McGinn down the flanks was a cause for concern for the Rijeka full backs as Hayes felt the brunt of one crude challenge from behind from Stefan Ristovski, which went unpunished by Italian referee Marco Guida, who failed to award even a free kick.
That Aberdeen goalkeeper Danny Ward made it to half-time without the slightest hint of trouble was testament to the organisation and execution of the gameplan from his outfield team-mates.
And it was the Dons who came close to an interval lead in the final minute when McGinn’s low drive was tipped away in impressive fashion by Sluga, who dived low to his left to get a hand to the Northern Irishman’s netbound effort from 18 yards.
Defender Ashton Taylor went close within minutes of the second half too as he rose unchallenged to meet Hayes’ corner but he headed wide with the goal at his mercy while Rijeka continued to huff and puff anywhere near the Aberdeen goal.
But a comfortable night for Aberdeen did suffer one jolt just before the hour mark when Rijeka pulled one goal back through Marin Tomasov, who found space in the box to sidefoot the ball past Ward with his side’s first shot on target.
The Dons’ response was strong with David Goodwillie curling a great low ball into the box for Hayes, who should have guided his header into the net but the midfielder was left with his head in his hands after somehow heading wide from inside the six yard box.
Hayes’ anguish turned to despair when Rijeka scored again just minutes later with their second goal in six minutes.
Graeme Shinnie backed off substitute Zoran Kvrzic and the midfielder took advantage with a long range effort which flew past Ward with the aid of a deflection.
Suddenly the composure of the first hour had evaporated but McGinn instantly calmed the nerves.
A long ball down the right left Filip Bradaric in all sorts of bother and McGinn ran in behind the defender before firing low past Sluga to restore a sense of calm within Pittodrie.
By now Rijeka were desperate and it played into Aberdeen’s hands perfectly.
A slip out on the right by Ristovski let Goodwillie run clear down the left and the forward showed great composure to hold the ball up before feeding Hayes and he fired past Sluga to send the Dons through.
