St Mirren vs Aberdeen. Scottish Premiership.
The SMiSA StadiumAttendance7,492.
Match report as a late Bojan Miovski penalty earns Aberdeen a 2-2 draw against in-form St Mirren
Sunday 27 August 2023 19:16, UK
Bojan Miovski denied St Mirren top spot in the cinch Premiership with a penalty equaliser for Aberdeen 10 minutes into stoppage-time in Paisley.
St Mirren looked to have sealed a thoroughly-deserved seventh consecutive victory after Greg Kiltie's penalty and a goal from substitute Alex Greive turned the game on its head in the second half.
Jonny Hayes had put Aberdeen ahead in the 42nd minute totally against the run of play before the Dons had even mustered a shot at goal - the wing-back's free-kick delivery from wide ended up in the net.
Aberdeen did not look a shadow of the side that fought back from two goals down in their Europa League play-off first leg against Swedish champions BK Hacken in Gothenburg on Thursday and only had one, off-target, effort at goal outside of their two goals.
But they somehow escaped Paisley with another 2-2 draw.
Just as the 7,492 crowd were preparing to celebrate, Alex Gogic was penalised for handball following a VAR review after charging down Leighton Clarkson's shot on the edge of the box.
There was another VAR check after Miovski dispatched the penalty as Saints goalkeeper Zach Hemming claimed the North Macedonian striker had touched the ball twice after slipping while taking the spot-kick.
But the goal was given as St Mirren saw a seventh consecutive win slip away, forcing them to settle for second place behind Celtic on goal difference.
St Mirren manager Stephen Robinson handed a start to striker Toyosi Olusanya while Aberdeen made two changes following their draw in Sweden as Hayes and Angus MacDonald came in.
The hosts pinned the Dons back from the start, pressed them high up the park and created several chances from crosses.
Kiltie, Richard Taylor and Ryan Strain all forced good saves from headers and Keanu Baccus had a goal disallowed for offside after Strain's shot had been blocked.
Strain's cross just evaded two team-mates and Olusanya should have made more of Conor McMenamin's delivery.
Aberdeen were rarely out of their own half until the few minutes immediately before their opener, which came after Taylor's challenge from behind on Luis Lopes.
Hayes' fee-kick went beyond everyone and nestled in the far corner with St Mirren goalkeeper Hemming motionless.
Robinson was soon booked after venting his anger over John Beaton's free-kick award.
Aberdeen failed to build on their unlikely lead after half-time and St Mirren were quickly back on the attack.
McMenamin had an effort saved and Kiltie saw a goal ruled out for an earlier offside against Olusanya after Roos spilled a volley from Keanu Baccus. Olusanya soon raced clean through on goal but was denied by Roos.
St Mirren finally got their break when Beaton penalised MacDonald for handball after Strain's cutback and Kiltie sent Roos the wrong way from the spot in the 59th minute.
Aberdeen brought on James McGarry and former St Mirren midfielder Jamie McGrath for their league debuts and Finland defender Richard Jensen for his first appearance for the club.
But it was the St Mirren substitutes that made a crucial impact in the 76th minute as Mikael Mandron played Greive through and the New Zealand international drilled home.
An equaliser looked unlikely until the late drama and Miovski celebrated again after the VAR check, missiles flying towards him after continuing them in front of the home support.
St Mirren manager Stephen Robinson said: "I thought we dominated the game from start to finish. We created all of the chances and luck didn't go our way with certain things.
"All I can ask for is that level of quality and I got that. Some of the football we played and the quality of the chances we created were a credit to that group of players. I would rather talk about them than about decisions or things that went against us.
"That's all I can ask of those boys who are very, very talented and I'm very proud of them.
Aberdeen manager Barry Robson said: "First and foremost credit to St Mirren. I thought they were excellent.
"We looked a yard off it all over the pitch. But, when you can't win it then you don't lose it. I thought we hung in there and fought right until the end.
"I think the fans helped us in the end. We needed to get something out of the game and thanks to them we did. We probably got a few VAR decisions as well."
St Mirren's next Scottish Premiership game is away to Livingston on September 2.
Aberdeen have the second leg of their Europa League play off on Thursday night before a home league match against Hibernian on September 3.
