Aberdeen vs Motherwell; Scottish Premiership
Aberdeen vs Motherwell. Scottish Premiership.
PittodrieAttendance17,843.
Aberdeen 1-1 Motherwell: Jesper Karlsson stunner cancelled out by Elijah Just in tight Premiership draw at Pittodrie
Report as Aberdeen and Motherwell share the spoils at Pittodrie; Jesper Karlsson's stunning strike was cancelled out by Elijah Just; Aberdeen rise to eighth in Scottish Premiership with Motherwell in sixth
Sunday 9 November 2025 20:39, UK
Aberdeen and Motherwell battled to a share of the spoils with a 1-1 draw at Pittodrie as the Dons continue to climb the Scottish Premiership table.
Motherwell enjoyed the better of the possession but fell behind to Jesper Karlsson's superb 25-yard strike, before levelling almost immediately through Elijah Just to earn a point.
The Steelmen started the better of the sides and Apostolos Stamatelopoulos was inches away from converting a cross from the right, before home goalkeeper Dimitar Mitov pulled off a stunning save to deny Callum Slattery from point-blank range.
- Teams | Stats
- Got Sky? Watch now on the Sky Sports app 📱
- Not got Sky? Get instant access with no contract 📺
- Scottish Premiership table | Watch Premiership highlights for free
However, it would be the home side who had the best opportunity to open the scoring, Karlsson's clever free-kick finding Marko Lazetic all alone in front of goal, but the striker somehow contrived to turn wide of the upright.
It would be Karlsson who broke the deadlock, and in some style just after the hour mark. Picking the ball up just inside the Motherwell half, the Swede drove at Paul McGinn, working inside from the left flank, before firing past Callum Ward from 25 yards.
Motherwell got back on terms swiftly, though, as Slattery's quick corner from the left caught Aberdeen cold allowing Just to fire home at the near post.
Neither side could fashion the opening to score a winner, with the draw a fair result in the end as Aberdeen rose to eighth in the table, with Motherwell in sixth.
What the managers said
Aberdeen boss Jimmy Thelin:
"With the ball, Motherwell are a good team with how they build up through central areas.
"In the first half we went wrong with the pressing and sometimes the opponent can do really good things. We wanted to be more ready for interceptions and transitions.
"The good thing with the team now is they don't stress and are able to correct things in the game.
"The second half was better, the last four weeks we have grown into games, we're more stable in our defence. The team is growing, maybe not fast enough for everyone, and we have to improve how we attack now.
"Jesper [Karlsson] has this ability to find his team-mates and from set-plays, and of course when he gets the opportunity to shoot he is always dangerous."
Motherwell manager Jens Berthel Askou:
"When you look at the statistics, the draw is fair. We tried to dominate and drive the game forward from start to finish. We were in full control for almost the entire game.
"We lost control in a moment where we probably got a little bit overconfident because we felt so on top, but we also have to praise Jesper Karlsson for producing a great strike.
"We scored a wonderful goal but with all the dominance and control, we are disappointed that we weren't able to produce more big chances and moments where we could have tipped the game into our hands."
