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Hat-trick hero Sam Cosgrove helps Aberdeen breeze past Chikhura Sachkhere

Aberdeen's Sam Cosgrove celebrates his goal to make it 2-0 against Chikhura Sachkhere
Aberdeen's Sam Cosgrove celebrates his goal to make it 2-0 against Chikhura Sachkhere

Sam Cosgrove notched a hat-trick as Aberdeen eased into the third qualifying round of the Europa League with a 5-0 victory against Chikhura Sachkhere at Pittodrie.

Cosgrove’s away goal in last week’s 1-1 draw in Georgia meant the Dons went into the second leg with a slender advantage.

But two goals from the Englishman inside 20 minutes put the Dons firmly in the driving seat.

Greg Leigh capped his Dons debut with a goal when he headed home the third in the 58th minute before substitute Scott Wright added a fourth.

Man of the match Cosgrove completed his hat-trick 10 minutes to go on a comfortable evening for Derek McInnes’ side.

They will now travel to Croatia to face Rijeka in the third qualifying round next week, having knocked the Croats out of the competition four years ago.

Leigh was handed his first Aberdeen start in the only change from the first leg with the former NAC Breda defender stepping in to replace the injured Ash Taylor.

The Georgians wasted no time in pushing for the first goal with Besik Dekanoidze testing Joe Lewis inside the opening minute.

But it was the Dons who settled the nerves by taking the lead with only nine minutes on the clock.

A superbly worked move down the right flank between Lewis Ferguson, Ryan Hedges and Niall McGinn allowed Jon Gallagher to tee up Cosgrove who fired home with the aid of a deflection.

Confidence oozed from the Dons after the goal as they knocked the ball about with style with Ferguson at the heart of much of Aberdeen’s best play.

McGinn tried his luck with a curling effort that was well held by Dino Hamzic before the Dons doubled their advantage in stunning style after 20 minutes.

Shay Logan’s lobbed pass to the right flank was volleyed across goal first time by Ferguson for Cosgrove to nod home.

Aberdeen should have had a third only four minutes into the second half when Hamzic spilled a McGinn cross but recovered superbly to deny Gallagher what looked a certain goal.

But it was only a matter of time before the Reds added to their tally with Ferguson chalking up another assist with a cross to an unmarked Leigh who headed home.

<br />Aberdeen’s Greg Leigh celebrates his goal to make it 4-0 with Andy Considine

Wright, a second half substitute for McGinn, found the back of the net with a composed finish only two minutes after coming on after racing on to a Gallagher pass and calmly slotting beyond Hamzic.

Cosgrove completed his hat-trick with a neat turn and finish to complete a fine night’s work for the striker, who has netted six goals in four games.