World News – GB – Sporting vs Aberdeen LIVE

Just a few minutes later, the Dons led 1-0 against the Portuguese giants despite a brilliant start

There would have been some degree of concern among Dons fans when the third qualifying round draw was made, with a trip to Lisbon arguably the most difficult game their team could have achieved.

Sporting have eight players and their coach missing after a string of COVID positives that saw their Premeira Liga opening postponed

It’s a unique draw in Portugal, so if Aberdeen manages to get a shock result against a weakened team, they will go through the play-offs to face LASK or Dunajska Streda

It’s even easier said than done, and the Dons will have to do without captain Scott McKenna, who was sold to Nottingham Forest this week, and last season’s top scorer, Sam Cosgrove

Tiago Tomas catches up to Ferguson late and receives yellow card for his troubles

Aberdeen needs to get higher on the pitch here and try to get the ball back in hand

Okay, they’re not going to overtake the Portuguese – but could someone like Funso Ojo inject something into the midfield?

Hayes works him on his left foot and tries a shot but he passes it over the crossbar

Matheus Nunes dictates things in the middle for Sporting, and to be fair, visitors have barely had a kick in the last five or 10 minutes

Maybe he was just offside, but it was very tight and he was given too much room

Aberdeen have defended very well so far, but they leave Tomas unmarked to get down to the end of Porro’s cross

Both teams claim it’s their throw-in, but it comes down to Sporting on the other side

Sporting tries to get up the gears with a ball to Porro on the right, but Hayes rushes to win the ball

They’re just working side by side, hoping to find a space to hit that Aberdeen defense

Wendel is looking for a brace but the return pass is too heavy from striker Tomas

The Aberdeen defender is under pressure to get back to his goal and tries to dribble away from Mendes

He falls and the Sporting man looks clear but Hoban has been cut and the whistle is right

It’s hard and low but it’s too close to Joe Lewis and a comfortable grip for the Aberdeen goalkeeper

So far it’s pretty much the same pattern as the first half as Aberdeen patiently waits for a chance to get the ball back

Aberdeen started well, but was cut off by a nice move from Sporting and fell behind after just eight minutes

Since then, while they look good, and although the hosts have had a lot of possession, they have seemed vulnerable as the Dons advance

If you could eliminate that gap for goal, which we unfortunately can’t, it would be a pretty perfect European performance away from Aberdeen

He tries a half volley but he goes under and it goes over the bar

Sporting sent a good ball into the corner area and that was good for Cabral but the Aberdeen goalkeeper began to refuse him!

He tries to choose hurdles in the middle but the cross is just a little too strong and the Welshman just can’t get a foot in it!

Sporting throws to the left but is ordered to take a few steps back to where the ball came out

The ref has a word about some pushes and pulls in the box, with Nunes and Watkins the culprits

Eventually Ferguson delivers the free kick and Hoban gets the end but he was climbing all over Luis Neto

Aberdeen looks good when they have it, they just have to be patient when Sporting is in possession

Once again McCrorie wins and rushes forward, only to be knocked down by a cynical challenge from Vietto

Number 10 goes into the book and it’s another Aberdeen free kick in a good area

He floated towards Taylor at the back post, but he uses an arm to try to pass over Nuno Mendes and the referee blows his whistle for a foul

This gives Aberdeen a chance to break through Marley Watkins, and they work side-to-side before winning a free kick in a good position

Sport doesn’t look comfortable with that long ball, and it’s something Aberdeen can try to exploit

The left winger plays a nice brace with Lewis Ferguson and finds himself with a little space in the box at Sporting

Hayes tries to cross it low but can’t quite wrap his foot around and Adan comes together

Aberdeen Football Club, Sporting CP, UEFA Europa League, Derek McInnes, Scott McKenna