AEK Larnaca 0-0 Aberdeen: Dons battle to first Conference League point in Cyprus | OneFootball

Aberdeen picked up the first point of their Conference League campaign with a hard-fought goalless draw against AEK Larnaca in Cyprus.

Jimmy Thelin’s side showed far more defensive resilience than in recent European showings and were unfortunate not to snatch a late winner after missing a golden chance in the final minutes.

As it happened

Aberdeen began brightly, with Dante Polvara’s cross finding Jack Milne in the middle of the box, but the defender couldn’t sort his feet out quickly enough to test Zlatan Alomerović in the Larnaca net.

Nicky Devlin almost handed the hosts the lead midway through the first half when his sliced clearance looped just wide of his own post. Dimitar Mitov was then called into action for the first time, saving low from Đorđe Ivanović’s effort. Moments later, Hrvoje Miličević rattled the post from range as Larnaca started to turn up the pressure.

After the break, Larnaca had a few decent chances, the best of those coming when Jorge Miramon surged into the area and cut the ball back for Ivanović, only for Devlin to produce a crucial block to keep the scores level.

Aberdeen had a massive chance to steal all three points late on when substitute Topi Keskinen broke away and squared for Nicolas Milanović, who sliced wide with the goal gaping.

Larnaca then missed an equally big opportunity with the final touch of the match, as Karol Angielski headed wide wide from close range which ensured the game finished goalless.

Aberdeen will see the result as a step forward after their heavy defeat in Athens two weeks ago. They could have won it or lost it in added time but will see the performance as something to build on for their next European game at home to Armenian champions Noah.

AEK Larnaca, meanwhile, maintain their unbeaten start and clean sheet record in the competition, sitting on seven points. They are still in a great position to qualify ahead of their trip to Rijeka next time out.

The line-ups

LAR: Alomerović; Miramon, Godswill, Miličević, Gnali; Ledes, Suárez, Pons; Ivanović, Bajić, Rubio

ABE: Mitov; Lobban, Devlin, Milne, Knoester, Jensen; Armstrong, Polvara; Aouchiche, Karlsson; Lazetić