Substitutes Dante Polvara and Ester Sokler helped revive Aberdeen's Europa League hopes as they came from two goals down to draw with 10-man Romanian champions FCSB.

Defensive frailties had threatened to derail the Scottish Cup winners' hopes in their play-off first leg at Pittodrie, despite FCSB playing for nearly an hour a man down.

Jack Milne and Gavin Molloy went for the same long ball and failed to deal with it, allowing Daniel Birligea to calmly open the scoring when it was 11 v 11.

Then, one minute after the restart, substitute Mats Knoester and Molloy left the ball for one another, and Birligea profited again as he crossed for Darius Olaru to tap in.

That horrible lapse at the back meant the advantage Aberdeen appeared to have after Juri Cisotti was sent off before half time for scything down Nicolas Milanovic was wasted.

But the introduction of midfielder Polvara in particular helped turn the tide. His fierce drive in off a post reduced the deficit, before Sokler thundered in a 90th-minute header to spark joy at Pittodrie.

Polavara came so close to a winner too in stoppage-time, but his header from close range was beaten away by FCSB goalkeeper Stefan Tarnovanu.

A place in the Conference League is already secured for Aberdeen, which is comforting before they head to Bucharest for next Thursday's second leg.

But their comeback gives them hope it could be the Europa League they are playing in between now and February.

Polvara is a player Aberdeen fans have been desperate to see more of since Jimmy Thelin took charge at the start of last season.

They were robbed of that chance mostly due to injuries last term, and this season so far the manager has kept him out of the starting side.

But here he showed why there is clamour for him to play. His size, dribbling ability and knack of scoring big goals came to the fore as he provided a brilliant out ball for Aberdeen as they attacked 10 men, constantly making runs into the box.

His left-footed, first-time finish while on the turn was magnificent and sparked a side who had until then looked unconvincing in front of goal.

If he is fit, Polvara surely has to start the return leg next week.

Credit, too, to Sokler who has also been out of the picture in this nascent campaign.

The Slovenian has never shown himself to be a clinical player at Pittodrie, but he is excellent in the air and never stops running.

The pair of them - and Leighton Clarkson's control in midfield - helped change the complexion of the tie, and bail out their colleagues at the back.

Aberdeen's vulnerability is a long-running theme and needs fixing urgently. Molloy did not look comfortable at left-back and was culpable for both goals.

But he was not the only one who looked unconvincing. The team's shape when they lose the ball is still wide open and will keep standing in the way of progress unless resolved.

Aberdeen manager Jimmy Thelin: "The fans helped us come back in the game and gave us a chance for the second round, and the way we came back and created these chances was good.

"Then, of course, we have to improve the composure when we arrived at the crossing zones and raise the quality, and of course the goals they score, it can't happen in this kind of game today, it happened.

"So the 12th player today helped us to get this, give us a chance for the second round now."

Aberdeen captain Graeme Shinnie: "Obviously disappointed to go two goals behind. The heart and the character, driven on by the crowd who were phenomenal, that was there to come back.

"It's in the balance, they're a good side. With the crowd's backing there as well, we could drive on and create more chances."

Aberdeen goalscorer Ester Sokler: "I'm happy with the goal, that's the striker's job, but I'm disappointed to not get more from this game.

"We have it in our hands for next Thursday. Maybe I could score one or two more, but this is football and we go again next Thursday."

Aberdeen took advantage of the option to postpone their league game at the weekend against Dundee United to focus on this tie.

The second leg in Bucharest is next Thursday (19:30 BST). FCSB play on Sunday in the Romanian SuperLiga.