Aberdeen pulled off a miraculous comeback as they got here from three objectives right down to rescue a dramatic draw with Motherwell within the Scottish Premiership.
The Dons appeared lifeless and buried as they gifted their guests three objectives earlier than the half-hour mark, with Theo Bair scoring twice and Adam Devine netting the third.
A swift double substitution from supervisor Neil Warnock modified every thing, with Duk scoring seconds after his introduction and Stefan Gartenmann slotting one other earlier than half-time.
Duk bought his second and Aberdeen’s third simply 5 minutes into the second half earlier than Bojan Miovski had a strike dominated out for offside.
Motherwell additionally had a possible winner dominated out by Kevin Clancy after VAR intervened following Harry Paton’s close-range effort.
Motherwell transfer as much as seventh, whereas Aberdeen stay ninth, with either side on 26 factors.
Eyebrows had been raised when Warnock named solely three defenders – and one pure centre-half – in his beginning XI and so they got here undone after solely three minutes when Shayden Morris fouled Georgie Gent within the field.
Bair slammed the penalty residence and tucked his second away with related aplomb. Georgie Gent put in a implausible cross into the hall of uncertainty, the place Bair waited to snaffle up the prospect.
Aberdeen appeared shocked and Stuart Kettlewell’s facet took full benefit. Blair Spittal had a shot blocked on the sting of the world, just for Devine to ghost in and prod previous goalkeeper Kelle Roos.
Warnock mentioned he’s prepared to makes modifications if issues go incorrect – and he was true to his phrase as Dante Polvara and Morris had been hooked for Angus MacDonald and Duk.
Thirty seconds later, the latter had scored. From a throw on the proper, Miovski discovered his strike companion and Duk took one contact to set himself, and tickled the ball previous Liam Kelly along with his second.
Pittodrie roared and, six minutes later, roared once more. Connor Barron whipped in a superb cross that was flicked on on the entrance publish. Goalkeeper Liam Kelly made a save, however it got here straight to Gartenmann, who tucked residence on the again publish.
Aberdeen began the second half in the identical vein and it didn’t take lengthy for Duk to attain. Graeme Shinnie swung an enormous cross in and Duk beat Devine within the air to nod in off the again publish.
Either side traded probabilities and Miovski had the ball at the back of the web after deflecting a cross in off his knee. He was flagged offside instantly, however the replay confirmed it was very tight.
It wasn’t the final time VAR Steven MacLean would get entangled.
Motherwell thought they’d pinched a winner when Harry Paton diverted residence from shut vary after Aberdeen fluffed clearing a nook, however VAR noticed a foul on Jamie McGrath within the build-up and the hosts had been granted a reprieve.
Participant of the Match – Georgie Gent
Properly gentle centre uncovered as Warnock wizardry rescues draw – evaluation
It appeared for all of the world that Motherwell had been about to win away within the league for the primary time since September.
They had been at their best, ripping aside an experimental Aberdeen XI.
Then Warnock intervened. His substitutions had been excellent, strengthening Aberdeen’s core and attacking the weak Motherwell back-line.
At 3-1, it appeared inevitable Aberdeen would degree and finally they did. A winner? In some way not.
A win for both would have put them seventh, some extent behind Dundee. Each could come to remorse not discovering a last, deadly blow.
What’s subsequent?
Aberdeen host Hibernian on Saturday, whereas Motherwell go to Hearts (each 15:00 GMT).
Line-ups
Aberdeen
Formation 3-4-2-1
- 24Roos
- 2Devlin
- 6Gartenmann
- 3MacKenzie
- 20MorrisSubstituted forHenriques de Barros Lopesat 30′minutes
- 8Barron
- 4ShinnieBooked at 90mins
- 7McGrath
- 10ClarksonSubstituted forPhillipsat 77′minutes
- 21PolvaraSubstituted forMacDonaldat 30′minutesBooked at 83mins
- 9Miovski
Substitutes
- 11Henriques de Barros Lopes
- 14Guèye
- 17Hayes
- 18Phillips
- 19Sokler
- 23Duncan
- 27MacDonald
- 28Milne
- 31Doohan
Motherwell
Formation 3-5-2
- 1KellyBooked at 90mins
- 5Mugabi
- 66ButcherBooked at 90mins
- 16McGinnBooked at 87mins
- 21DevineSubstituted forO’Donnellat 72′minutes
- 17ZdravkovskiSubstituted forNicholsonat 58′minutesBooked at 61mins
- 12Paton
- 7Spittal
- 3Gent
- 28ValeSubstituted forObikaat 72′minutes
- 14Bair
Substitutes
- 2O’Donnell
- 9Obika
- 13Oxborough
- 15Casey
- 19Nicholson
- 20Blaney
- 27Buyabu
- 30Ferrie
- 38Miller
- Referee:
- Kevin Clancy
- Attendance:
- 15,290
Stay Textual content
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Match ends, Aberdeen 3, Motherwell 3.
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Second Half ends, Aberdeen 3, Motherwell 3.
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Stefan Gartenmann (Aberdeen) wins a free kick on the proper wing.
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Foul by Jonathan Obika (Motherwell).
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Liam Kelly (Motherwell) is proven the yellow card.
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Calum Butcher (Motherwell) is proven the yellow card.
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Offside, Aberdeen. Bojan Miovski is caught offside.
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Graeme Shinnie (Aberdeen) is proven the yellow card for a nasty foul.
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Foul by Graeme Shinnie (Aberdeen).
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Stephen O’Donnell (Motherwell) wins a free kick on the proper wing.
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Hand ball by Jonathan Obika (Motherwell).
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Paul McGinn (Motherwell) is proven the yellow card for a nasty foul.
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Jamie McGrath (Aberdeen) wins a free kick on the proper wing.
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Foul by Paul McGinn (Motherwell).
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Jamie McGrath (Aberdeen) wins a free kick within the attacking half.
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Foul by Harry Paton (Motherwell).
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Offside, Motherwell. Jonathan Obika is caught offside.
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Angus MacDonald (Aberdeen) is proven the yellow card for a nasty foul.
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Foul by Angus MacDonald (Aberdeen).
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Sam Nicholson (Motherwell) wins a free kick within the defensive half.
Participant of the match
DukDuk
Aberdeen
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Squad quantity11Participant identifyDuk
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Squad quantity9Participant identifyMiovski
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Squad quantity3Participant identifyMacKenzie
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Squad quantity27Participant identifyMacDonald
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Squad quantity8Participant identifyBarron
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Squad quantity4Participant identifyShinnie
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Squad quantity7Participant identifyMcGrath
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Squad quantity10Participant identifyClarkson
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Squad quantity2Participant identifyDevlin
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Squad quantity6Participant identifyGartenmann
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Squad quantity18Participant identifyPhillips
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Squad quantity21Participant identifyPolvara
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Squad quantity20Participant identifyMorris
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Squad quantity24Participant identifyRoos
Motherwell
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Squad quantity14Participant identifyBair
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Squad quantity21Participant identifyDevine
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Squad quantity3Participant identifyGent
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Squad quantity7Participant identifySpittal
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Squad quantity28Participant identifyVale
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Squad quantity17Participant identifyZdravkovski
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Squad quantity16Participant identifyMcGinn
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Squad quantity12Participant identifyPaton
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Squad quantity66Participant identifyButcher
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Squad quantity2Participant identifyO’Donnell
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Squad quantity5Participant identifyMugabi
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Squad quantity1Participant identifyKelly
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Squad quantity19Participant identifyNicholson
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Squad quantity9Participant identifyObika