Ester Sokler headed a late equaliser as Aberdeen fought back from two goals down to draw 2-2 at home to 10-man FCSB in the first leg of their Europa League play-off.
The tie looked to be slipping away from the Scottish Cup winners when the Romanian champions went ahead in the 32nd minute and then overcame the dismissal of Juri Cisotti soon afterwards to double their lead in the first minute of the second half.
However, goals from substitutes Dante Polvara and Sokler in the closing half-hour brought the Dons level and ensured there is all to play for in the second leg in Bucharest next Thursday.
Jimmy Thelin – taking charge of his first European match since being appointed by the Reds last summer – made one change to the side which started the Premier Sports Cup win at Morton on Saturday as Topi Keskinen replaced the injured Shayden Morris.
FCSB – formerly known as Steaua Bucharest – arrived in Scotland’s north east with just one win from their six league games this season and having lost their Champions League qualifier against Macedonian side Shkendija last month.
After emerging from the tunnel to the rousing sight of a spectacular red and white tifo display across all four stands of Pittodrie, the Dons swiftly set about getting on the front foot, with Kusini Yengi and Adil Aouchiche both threatening early on.
The Scots were unable to capitalise on the possession they enjoyed in the opening half-hour, however, and were hit with a sucker punch when the visitors went ahead from their first chance of the match in the 32nd minute.
Dons defender Gavin Molloy got his headed clearance from goalkeeper Stefan Tarnovanu’s long kick-out all wrong, allowing David Miculescu to latch on to the loose ball and release Daniel Birligea, who burst into the box and guided a clinical finish beyond the exposed Dimitar Mitov from 12 yards out.
The deflated home support were given reason for cheer in the 38th minute, however, when Cisotti was shown a straight red card after catching Nicolas Milanovic on the ankle with a reckless lunge from behind.
With the sending-off having changed the dynamic, both managers made triple substitutions for the second period and it was one of FCSB’s replacements who made an instant impact by scoring within a minute of the restart.
After a misunderstanding in the Dons’ left-back area between substitute Mats Knoester and Molloy, Birligea was able to burst clear on the right and slide a low delivery across the face of goal for Darius Olaru to tap home from close range.
Thelin made a double substitution just before the hour to try to spark the Dons into life and this time it paid off as they pulled one back in the 61st minute.
Keskinen’s deflected shot broke across the penalty area to Polvara, who turned 12 yards out and lashed in via the post within two minutes of entering the fray.
The hosts cranked up the pressure in the closing stages and Sokler, having previously gone close twice, headed home the equaliser from Ante Palaversa’s corner in the 89th minute.
