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Another European Glory Night at Pittodrie
18th February 2008
Members of the Aberdeen team who humbled Bayern Munich 25 years ago took a bow at half-time of the UEFA Cup match at Pittodrie last Thursday but by full-time it was the class of 2008 who had added their names to Aberdeen footballing folklore. The seventh richest side in the world and favourites to win the European competition left Pittodrie with bruised and battered egos after an enthralling 2-2 draw.
In an explosive, pulsating and non-stop first-half, Aberdeen twice took the lead through Josh Walker and Sone Aluko. Miroslav Klose had initially replied to Josh Walker?s beautiful, curling 25-yard strike but whilst the more pessimistic may have expected a German onslaught to follow, Sone Aluko displayed a piece of individual brilliance as he bamboozled his marker before unleashing a drive past the hapless Rensing in goal.
In the second-half Hamit Altintop forced an equaliser after he was quickest to follow up the rebound to his missed penalty but the Dons players managed to hold on for a deserved draw. Afterwards Jimmy Calderwood spoke of his disappointment at not having won the tie and on another night the unpunished handball offences of Andreas Ottl and Marcell Jansen would not have gone unnoticed by the referee. Deep down though, Jimmy would have been ecstatic by the brave performance from the Dons given their poor run of form prior to the game.
It was extraordinary to think that the Aberdeen side that played such high tempo, pressing and effective counter-attacking football against Bayern on Thursday night was the same squad of players who had been turned over so easily by Dundee United and Celtic the week before.
Pittodrie was packed to the rafters and as loud and boisterous as ever and the Dons players relished having the twelfth man along with them. For the first 45 minutes Ottmar Hitzfeld?s side looked positively riled as the Dons players, Aluko and Mackie especially, teased and tormented the German backline.
Around 6,000 Dons fans will now descend on Munich this week in the hope of witnessing an unbelievable upset. The Germans will still be firm favourites to progress to the next round but if Aberdeen can perform with the same determination and resoluteness as they did on Thursday night then it could be another absorbing encounter.
WHY THE TV BLACKOUT FOR MUNICH TIE?
Aberdeen fans are rightly fuming that the club?s most important match of the season on Thursday against Bayern may not be shown on TV. The BBC have argued that they couldn?t possibly show both the Rangers match and the Aberdeen match as they are on at the same time and it would not be possible to put football on both BBC1 and BBC2 simultaneously. While to most that may sound like TV heaven it is an understandable argument. The Beeb have obviously felt that Rangers can command a higher audience so they have plumped for their tie against Panathinaikos. However surely Setanta, Sky or even Channel 5 could try and buy the rights so that the Aberdeen supporters who aren?t able to travel to Munich for the match at least get to watch the game instead of having to listen to it on the radio.
MARSEILLE MAGIC FROM MURRAY
The young Scot put the recent criticism of his withdrawal from the Davis Cup match in Argentina behind him to secure a superb victory in the Open 13 final in Marseille. His 6-3 6-4 victory over Mario Ancic earned Murray his second ATP title of 2008. The win will be all the more sweet for the Dunblane star given the backlash he endured for withdrawing from the Davis Cup match against Argentina because of injury concerns. Hopefully Murray can remain fit and have a real go at winning Wimbledon this year.
TALKING A GOOD GAME
?You always lose when your opponents score and you don?t.?
French coach Raymond Domenech speaks the truth after his side?s defeat against Spain.
?Ghana are finding it difficult to impregnate the Cameroon defence.?
Commentator during the African Cup of Nations Semi-final. Hopefully he meant to say ?penetrate?.
?If it?s going to go wrong I want it to go wrong the way I want it to.?
The demands of Falkirk manager John Hughes.
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