Keskinen cost Aberdeen £800,000 when he signed from HJK Helsinki
New signing Topi Keskinen came off the bench to score a late winner on his debut as Aberdeen squeezed Queen’s Park in the Premier Sports Cup last 16.
The game looked certain to head to extra time until Finnish winger Keskinen, a midweek arrival from HJK Helsinki, turned brilliantly in the box to rifle home a 92nd-minute strike.
Aberdeen dominated proceedings but, until the late breakthrough, Queen's Park goalkeeper Calum Ferrie denied the Dons time and again.
The Dons have now won every game this season under new boss Jimmy Thelin, making it seven out of seven with the victory over their Championship opposition.
With star striker Bojan Miovski departing for Girona during the week, Dons fans needed some good news to lift the spirits, and they were happy with the lively start at Pittodrie.
Jack MacKenzie was a constant menace down the left, and was denied a goal by a brilliant block from Jack Turner.
Queen’s Park did have chances though, and could have been ahead at the break when Dom Thomas nicked the ball from the home defence. One-on-one, he rolled the ball sideways to Zak Rudden, whose strike was blocked on the line by Jack Milne.
Aberdeen striker Papa Gueye almost broke the deadlock when he guided a header towards the top corner, but was denied by a flying Calum Ferrie save.
The second half was a quieter, nervier affair. Queen’s Park were camped in their own half but Aberdeen without Miovski did not look clinical in front of goal.
That was until Keskinen, on as a second-half substitute, swivelled brilliantly in the box and laced a left-footed effort into the top corner.
Dominant Dons must find new goalscorer quickly
Despite the strength of Aberdeen's squad compared to Queen's Park, the Dons missed Miovski up front - a player who would have finished the umpteen chances created.
They need a new talisman, and auditions are still ongoing.
MacKenzie at left-back might be an unlikely candidate. He bombed up and down the left and was a real scoring threat.
Jamie McGrath is another contender, as is Sivert Heltne Nilssen - a tough-tackling midfielder who keeps things nice and simple in the middle of the park.
However, it was Keskinen who really announced himself. A fee of around £800,000 was spent on the 21-year-old and expectations are high as a result.
A game-winning goal on debut goes some way to repaying the money spent.
What they said
Aberdeen manager Jimmy Thelin: "We needed some luck to go through. Their goalkeeper made good saves, you have to respect that and their fight and their belief.
"The fans stayed with us after first half and pushed us to the winning goal. Sometimes you need that extra push when the opponent defends well."
Queen's Park head coach Callum Davidson: "The lads were magnificent today. We've been guilty, when we play the bigger teams, of being too open. Today, we worked really hard.
"We had our own really good chances, opportunities to hurt Aberdeen. It was one of those games, we could have held out and gone to extra time but bodies get tired.
"If I get more performances like that, I'll be pretty pleased."
