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Aberdeen vs Eintracht Frankfurt. UEFA Conference League Group G.

PittodrieAttendance14,474.

Aberdeen 2

  • L de Barros Lopes (41st minute)
  • E Sokler (74th minute)

Eintracht Frankfurt 0

    Aberdeen 2-0 Eintracht Frankfurt: Dons win first Europa Conference League game with shock victory

    Report as Duk and Ester Sokler scored the goals as Aberdeen signed off their Europa Conference League campaign with a shock win against Eintracht Frankfurt; the Dons finished third in Group G with six points; Aberdeen face Rangers in the Viaplay Cup final on Sunday

    ABERDEEN, SCOTLAND - DECEMBER 14: Aberdeen's Ester Sokler celebrates after scoring to make it 2-0 during a UEFA Europa Conference League match between Aberdeen and Eintracht Frankfurt at Pittodrie Stadium, on December 14, 2023, in Aberdeen, Scotland. (Photo by Mark Scates / SNS Group)
    Image: Ester Sokler celebrates after scoring Aberdeen's second goal in their win against Eintracht Frankfurt

    Aberdeen gave themselves a pre-Hampden boost by shocking Eintracht Frankfurt in a 2-0 victory at Pittodrie.

    Goals from Luis 'Duk' Lopes and Ester Sokler gave the Dons their first win in the Europa Conference League as they finished Group G in third place on six points.

    Duk slid in to score from close range just before the interval and Sokler sent a stunning lob past substitute 'keeper Jens Grahl with 15 minutes to go to net his second goal for the club.

    The win stretched Aberdeen's unbeaten home run against German sides in European competition to 10 matches and will send Barry Robson's team into Sunday's Viaplay Cup final against Rangers on a high.

    Aberdeen's Duk (left) celebrates with Shayden Morris after scoring to make it 1-0 vs Eintracht Frankfurt
    Image: Aberdeen's Duk celebrates with Shayden Morris after scoring vs Eintracht Frankfurt

    With Sunday in mind, Robson made eight changes to the side that had beaten Hearts at the weekend, with only Kelle Roos, Stefan Gartenmann and defender Jack Milne keeping their places. There was no place in the squad for Bojan Miovski, who has been suffering from a minor hamstring complaint this week.

    Rangers' 2021 Europa League final conquerors could not finish any higher or lower than second and they made seven changes from the side which beat Bayern Munich 5-1 at the weekend. Japan midfielder Makoto Hasebe, who turns 40 next month, captained the visitors.

    ABERDEEN, SCOTLAND - DECEMBER 14: Aberdeen's Luis Lopes (no. 11) celebrates after scoring to make it 1-0 during a UEFA Europa Conference League match between Aberdeen and Eintracht Frankfurt at Pittodrie Stadium, on December 14, 2023, in Aberdeen, Scotland. (Photo by Ross MacDonald / SNS Group)
    Image: Duk celebrates his opening goal in the Europa Conference League fixture

    Frankfurt were keen to show their quality and striker Jessic Ngankam warmed the gloves of Roos as early as the third minute. The same man fired wide after 15 minutes, and then his headed pass for Niels Nkounkou gave the defender a shot at goal which was deflected wide for a corner.

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    Aberdeen's European campaign has been characterised by a strong defensive shape and effective counter-attacks, and it was 35 minutes before their first real opening, as James McGarry found space to cross from the left, the ball nodded away from the onrushing Milne at the back post.

    That sparked a prolonged spell of pressure, but Frankfurt almost hit on a counter of their own, as Jens Petter Hauge strode away only to see his angled drive parried away by Roos.

    ABERDEEN, SCOTLAND - DECEMBER 14: Frankfurt's Robin Koch looks dejected during a UEFA Europa Conference League match between Aberdeen and Eintracht Frankfurt at Pittodrie Stadium, on December 14, 2023, in Aberdeen, Scotland. (Photo by Ross MacDonald / SNS Group)
    Image: Eintracht Frankfurt finished second in Group G, but lost in Aberdeen on Thursday

    Aberdeen were emboldened by their earlier foray forward though and took the lead in the 41st minute. Duk sent Shayden Morris clear on the right, continued his run to meet the latter's low cross, and turned the ball past Kevin Trapp.

    The Dons defended well in the second half. Roos saved from Paxton Aaronson and Richard Jensen got an important foot in to block from Ansgar Knauff.

    Just minutes later, Dante Polvara's pass set sub Sokler in behind the visitors' defence, and the Slovenian buried a superb shot past Grahl, who had replaced the injured Trapp at the interval.

    Robson: Aberdeen deserved more in Europe

    Aberdeen boss Barry Robson:

    "I've said before we've not got what we've deserved for what we've put into this European campaign. We've only lost two games, and one of them here was in the 92nd minute.

    "For me, the players have performed so well and I'm so glad they got that win because they've deserved more points than what we've got in Europe.

    "Scottish football should see what we've done this year. We've had some stick and rightly so at times, but it's not easy fighting on three fronts and we've done it so well.

    "After European games we've had four away games, and at one point we played seven games out of eight away from home as well. It's the emotion these games take out of you.

    "We've scored 10 goals in Europe, and that's not easy to do against that quality of opposition.

    "The boys who came in have been excellent and it was the same in Helsinki. We got some other players on at the right times to give us a helping hand. The boys should be proud - playing in European group games is so memorable.

    "Every single one of them works hard in training, every day. They're a good group, they're together, and we just have to try to find a way to perform well."

    What's next?

    Aberdeen's next game is the Viaplay Cup final on Sunday, when they face Rangers at Hampden Park; kick-off 3pm.

    The Dons then host Livingston in the Scottish Premiership on Wednesday; kick-off 7.45pm.

    Eintracht Frankfurt return to Bundesliga action on Sunday at Bayer Leverkusen, live on Sky Sports; kick-off 4.30pm.

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