Ferencvaros 2-1 Rangers: Post-match reaction
Dons are outclassed by French side - all that is left is beers in Prague
Done and dusted. Aberdeen's sorry Conference League campaign may have one more game left but it will be inconsequential in terms of progression. This 1-0 defeat by Strasbourg saw to that.
Jimmy Thelin's men head to Sparta Prague next week to conclude their European campaign. Prize money and pride is all that is left to play for. Nearly 2000 fans are booked up to follow them. They may forgo a visit to the epet ARENA and stay in Wenceslas Square. The beer tastes good in the Czech capital.
Aberdeen needed to beat Strasbourg here to keep their hopes of reaching the knock-out phase alive. The Ligue 1 side are one of the favourites to win the tournament outright, but visiting head coach Liam Rosenior picked a second-string team that at times looked vulnerable. Sadly, Aberdeen could not land a blow. They remain 33rd in the standings
Aberdeen's defence looks on after Martial Godo's scored Strasbourg's winner.placeholder image
Aberdeen's defence looks on after Martial Godo's scored Strasbourg's winner. | SNS Group
This has been a grim stint in Europe for the Dons. Their inability to beat FCSB in the Europa League play-offs parachuted them into UEFA's third-tier event. Admittedly given an unkind draw, losing to Shakhtar Donetsk and AEK Athens doesn't bring shame. A goalless draw in Cyprus against AEK Larnaca and then letting a lead slip at home to Noah of Armenia for a 1-1 stalemate are the real blots on the copybook.
For the second season running, Scotland's representatives in the Conference League haven't managed to squeeze into the top 24 of 36 teams. Hearts at least took it to the final game last term before bowing out with a 2-2 draw at home to Moldovan side Petrocub, when a win would have been enough.
This is where Scottish football is right now, scrabbling about in the nether reaches of European football.
Aberdeen arrived into this encounter on an eight-game unbeaten run. Their wretched start to the season has been cast aside. In a first-ever meeting with French opposition, an optimistic Pittodrie crackled in anticipation of adding another glorious European night to an impressive catalogue. We do not live in such times.
Chilwell given special treatment
Strasbourg are a curious case. Owned by BlueCo - whose main priority is Chelsea - they are a club at war with itself. Backed by 600 noisy travelling fans, they are loving this Conference League adventure by finishing seventh in France's top flight last season, but they hate the fact they are a pawn in someone else's game. Domestically they're on a three-game losing streak and have saved their best for Europe. They now sit top on 13 points.
Chelsea loanee Ben Chilwell is their most recognisable player. At the age of 28, he is also their oldest. The next is 23. A team full of technically gifted youngsters, Strasbourg looked nervous in the early stages at a gusty, chilly Pittodrie. Chilwell himself bundled the ball out for a corner in the first minute under no real pressure. He was jeered for his England credentials. A more cold-blooded side would have seized upon the visitors.
But not Aberdeen. They lacked ruthlessness, a mean streak. In the opening exchanges, Jack Milne's close range effort was deflected over the bar and Marko Lazetic's goalbound effort was blocked by Andrew Omobamidele. Mats Knoester did have the ball in the net on 14 minutes but it was annulled by VAR for a handball.
Adil Aouchiche fired an effort over and Knoester had another header pawed away by Strasbourg keeper Mike Penders. But before that, on 35 minutes, Aberdeen had shot themselves in the foot when Nicky Devlin let a Samuel Amo-Ameyaw through ball skid beyond him and Martial Godo neatly finished. That goal allowed the visitors to settle and grow in confidence.
Aberdeen keeper Dimitar Mitov saves a penalty from Strasbourg's Ismael Doukoure.placeholder image
Aberdeen keeper Dimitar Mitov saves a penalty from Strasbourg's Ismael Doukoure. | SNS Group
Godo ought to have scored again on 53 minutes but Aberdeen keeper Dimitar Mitov acrobatically tipped his header wide. The Bulgarian made an even better save on 57 minutes when the same player picked Stuart Armstrong's pocket and rifled a shot towards goal. Aberdeen's midfield was overrun, lacking in rigidity.
Thelin's desperation became evident as the lesser-spotted Australian flop Kusini Yengi was tossed on to try and rough up Strasbourg's now settled backline. At the other end, Mitov continued his heroics. A penalty was awarded on 70 minutes when Devlin toppled Godo, but the keeper guessed correctly and saved Ismael Doukoure's effort. The attempts of fellow sub Joaquin Panichelli to wrestle the ball off him prior to the kick probably didn't help matters.
Such profligacy didn't matter. Aberdeen threw everything at it until the death, but weren't good enough to score and aren't good enough to progress.