Aberdeen were left to rue a hugely-contentious first-half flashpoint in the second leg of their Europa League play-off against FCSB as they were consigned to the Conference League after a 5-2 aggregate defeat by the Romanian champions.
Following a 2-2 draw at Pittodrie last week, the Dons looked comfortable in the second leg in Bucharest’s National Arena until the dubious decision to award a penalty to the hosts and send off Alexander Jensen just before the break.
FCSB captain Darius Olaru made no mistake with the penalty and the dynamic of the game instantly changed, with second-half goals from Adrian Sut and Olaru taking the tie beyond the 10-man visitors as the team formerly known as Steaua Bucharest won 3-0 on the night.
Dons boss Jimmy Thelin, bidding to lead his side to the main phase of Europe’s second-tier competition for the the first time since they reached the UEFA Cup group stage in 2007, made five changes to the team that started the first leg.
Dante Polvara and Ester Sokler – both of whom stepped off the bench to score in the second-half fightback at Pittodrie – were among those added to the starting XI but there was no place in the squad for Shayden Morris, with Thelin revealing before kick-off that the Dons’ player of the year from last season was left out amid “strong interest” from another club.
While the William Hill Premiership side had no domestic game last weekend, FCSB’s dire start to their title defence continued with a 2-0 home defeat by Arges Pitesti, leaving them heading into the second leg under big pressure after winning only one of their opening seven league matches.
The Scots made a strong start as they tried to seize on any vulnerability in the home ranks and Sokler had a great chance in the second minute when Stefan Tarnovanu parried Adil Aouchiche’s shot into his path, but the Slovenian shot straight at the FCSB goalkeeper from inside the six-yard box.
At the other end, Daniel Birligea, who scored the opener at Pittodrie, curled an effort just beyond the far post from the angle of the box.
But the Dons continued to look the more dangerous side and Aouchiche blasted a shot on the bounce just over from seven yards out before Polvara threatened with a header.
The match swung in the hosts’ favour, however, following an incident in the 40th minute when the ball flicked up off David Miculescu on to the hand of Jensen as the pair tangled just inside the box.
Initially it looked like no action would be taken but after a VAR check that lasted several minutes, Norwegian referee Espen Eskas was called to the pitchside monitor and awarded a penalty before flashing a second yellow card at the stunned Jensen.
Olaru duly despatched his spot-kick beyond Dimitar Mitov in first-half stoppage-time.
Having looked so strong for most of the first half, the tie slipped away from the Reds as Sut arced a brilliant strike over Mitov from just outside the D in the 52nd minute.
And seven minutes later, Olaru notched his second of the night – and his third of the tie – when his low shot from just inside the box took a nick off Jack Milne on its way into the net.
