Summary

  • Rangers now guaranteed European football post-Christmas but could drop into Conference League

  • Babicka runs on to ball over the top and rounds Butland to slot Aris ahead

  • Cantwell replaced in first half for McCausland, who nets leveller after break with low 20-yard strike off post

  • Davies & Souttar replace absent centre-backs Goldson & Balogun as Lammers also starts

  • Conference League: HJK Helsinki 2-2 Aberdeen - Dons hit back from two down with MacDonald wonder strike & Duk header

  1. GREAT SAVE!published at 19:02 Greenwich Mean Time 30 November 2023

    HJK Helsinki 2-2 Aberdeen

    Ester Sokler has made some impact.

    The Aberdeen sub tries to squeeze in a third at the near post, but the HJK keeper gets a big hand to it.

  2. 'Dons deservedly back in game'published at 19:01 Greenwich Mean Time 30 November 2023

    HJK Helsinki 2-2 Aberdeen

    Stephen Craigan
    Former Motherwell captain on TNT Sports

    At half time, Barry Robson would have asked them to show more fight and spirit - boy, have they done that in the second half.

    Aberdeen have been the better team since they got to 2-1 and they're deservedly back in the game.

    Duk scoresImage source, SNS
  3. goal

    GOAL! HJK Helsinki 2-2 Aberdeenpublished at 18:58 Greenwich Mean Time 30 November 2023

    Duk

    Just seconds after he failed to make the most of an opportunity, Duk nods in at the back stick following Richard Jensen's front-post flick.

    They deserve that leveller.

    Aberdeen goal
  4. Postpublished at 18:57 Greenwich Mean Time 30 November 2023

    HJK Helsinki 2-1 Aberdeen

    Just imagine a game got called off for a goalie getting hit with snowballs.

  5. Postpublished at 18:57 Greenwich Mean Time 30 November 2023

    HJK Helsinki 2-1 Aberdeen

    Tyrone Smith
    BBC Scotland in Helsinki

    A message over the PA system says that throwing snowballs on to the pitch is strictly forbidden and the referee could stop the match for security reasons if it continues.

    It has been made three times.

  6. Postpublished at 18:56 Greenwich Mean Time 30 November 2023

    HJK Helsinki 2-1 Aberdeen

    The referee has now asked Jonny Hayes to sort it out.

    Have no idea what he's supposed to do.

  7. Postpublished at 18:56 Greenwich Mean Time 30 November 2023

    HJK Helsinki 2-1 Aberdeen

    Aberdeen fans are throwing snowballs at the HJK keeper and now the referee is off to speak to someone about it.

  8. Postpublished at 18:55 Greenwich Mean Time 30 November 2023

    HJK Helsinki 2-1 Aberdeen

    A wide free-kick from Jonny Hayes doesn't beat the first man then Aberdeen fail to create anything on the second phase.

  9. LINE-UPS from Ibroxpublished at 18:54 Greenwich Mean Time 30 November 2023

    Rangers v Aris Limassol (20:00)

    Rangers XI: Butland, Tavernier, Souttar, Davies, Barisic, Lundstram, Cifuentes, Lammers, Cantwell, Danilo, Sima.

    Substitutes: McCrorie, K Wright, Dessers, Lawrence, Matondo, Sterling, Roofe, King, Devine, McCausland, McKinnon.

    Aris Limassol XI: Vana, Mayambela, Yago, Moucketou-Moussanda, Urosevic, Caju, Bengtsson, Szoke, Struski, Babicka, Kokorin.

    Substitutes: Chrysostomou, E Sofroniou, Brown, Spoljaric, Stepinski, Dimitriou, Brorsson, Montnor.

  10. Postpublished at 18:53 Greenwich Mean Time 30 November 2023

    HJK Helsinki 2-1 Aberdeen

    HJK go up the other end and get two corners of their own.

    Both also come to nothing.

  11. Postpublished at 18:52 Greenwich Mean Time 30 November 2023

    HJK Helsinki 2-1 Aberdeen

    Aberdeen win a corner, but Connor Barron's delivery is cleared.

    This is definitely better from the Dons though.

  12. Postpublished at 18:50 Greenwich Mean Time 30 November 2023

    HJK Helsinki 2-1 Aberdeen

    Jonny Hayes looks to put Ester Sokler through one on one with the keeper, but the HJK defence just about cut it out.

    Aberdeen seem brighter.

  13. KICK-OFFpublished at 18:48 Greenwich Mean Time 30 November 2023

    HJK Helsinki 2-1 Aberdeen

    Away we go again.

    Aberdeen have made a double change as Pape Gueye and Ryan Duncan make way for Jamie McGrath and Ester Sokler.

  14. 'Rubezic all over the place'published at 18:47 Greenwich Mean Time 30 November 2023

    HT: HJK Helsinki 2-1 Aberdeen

    Ally McCoist
    Former Rangers striker & manager on TNT Sports

    Slobodan Rubezic has had a torturous 45 minutes, I've got to say.

    The conditions aren't comfortable but he has to defend better. He's been all over the place.

  15. Postpublished at 18:46 Greenwich Mean Time 30 November 2023

    Tyrone Smith
    BBC Scotland in Helsinki

    Someone just said to me "I have never been this cold in my life".

    That does accurately sum up the conditions.

    I have four layers on and am still perishing.

  16. 'Don't know how Dons are still in this'published at 18:44 Greenwich Mean Time 30 November 2023

    HT: HJK Helsinki 2-1 Aberdeen

    Willie Miller
    Former Aberdeen defender on BBC Sportsound

    I don't know how they have managed to stay in the game. Apart form the goal there has been at least another seven opportunities for HJK.

    They have had periods in the game where they have done reasonably well, where they have controlled the ball and built it up quite well, but the game should be out of their reach.

    Helsinki have had so many opportunities and then Angus MacDonald, what a strike. Totally out of the blue, Aberdeen have barely made a chance.

    They should be well out of it, they are not. The conditions are appalling, the surface is covered in snow.

  17. Mr Plow, that's my name...published at 18:41 Greenwich Mean Time 30 November 2023

    HT: HJK Helsinki 2-1 Aberdeen

    If you look closely, you'll see they are using Angus MacDonald's boots.

    .Image source, X
  18. 'Can Dons grasp lifeline?'published at 18:38 Greenwich Mean Time 30 November 2023

    HT: HJK Helsinki 2-1 Aberdeen

    Tyrone Smith
    BBC Scotland in Helsinki

    The headline from this one is how on earth are Aberdeen still in this game.

    They looked down and out at 2-0. Then, out of nowhere, Angus MacDonald produced a 30-yard thunderbolt to hand the Dons an unlikely lifeline.

    The question is, can they grasp it?

    To have any chance they will have to do a whole lot better in the second half.

  19. 🚀published at 18:35 Greenwich Mean Time 30 November 2023

    HT: HJK Helsinki 2-1 Aberdeen

    A foot and a traction engine come to mind.

    Angus MacDonaldImage source, SNS
  20. HALF-TIMEpublished at 18:33 Greenwich Mean Time 30 November 2023

    HJK Helsinki 2-1 Aberdeen

    It had been a miserable half to forget for Aberdeen, that was until Angus MacDonald decided to leather one in from a mile out.

    The Dons are all of a sudden right back in this.

    Aberdeen celebrateImage source, SNS