Graeme Shinnie struck a majestic winner as Aberdeen secured a 2-1 Europa League first leg win over Apollon Limassol at Pittodrie. The Dons captain capped an inspirational display by swerving a 25-yard effort into the top corner in the 78th minute of the third qualifying-round first leg. Aberdeen have lost at this stage for three seasons running and conceding the opener in 1-1 draws at Pittodrie ultimately cost them in narrow aggregate losses to Kairat Almaty and Maribor in the past two years. So they seemed determined to impose themselves and were rewarded when Ryan Christie headed Gary Mackay-Steven's clipped cross over the goalkeeper and into the far corner of the net in the fifth minute. Apollon - who have twice reached the group stages in the past four years - levelled in the 59th minute through Brazilian full-back Jander but saw their manager and other full-back, Esteban Sachetti, sent off before the Dons took control.Aberdeen were without main goalscorer Adam Rooney after the Irishman suffered a hamstring strain but the 20,085 crowd had barely digested that news when Christie added to the goal and two assists he notched in the previous round against Bosnia's Siroki Brijeg. |
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