Aberdeen were eliminated from the Europa Conference League despite Jamie McGrath’s sensational free-kick snatching a point against PAOK Salonika in Greece.
The Irishman’s set-piece strike from 25 yards pulled the Scottish Premiership side level after Taison and Mbwanna Samatta had given the hosts the lead.
A delightful Duk goal early in the first half instilled confidence in imposing conditions, but Barry Robson’s side ultimately came up short again in a European thriller.
Still without a win after four games in Group G, their faint hopes of progressing to the knockout stages were extinguished by Eintracht Frankfurt’s win in Helsinki.
Without their talisman Bojan Miovski, all Aberdeen attention turned to Duk, a player who has fallen below the scintillating standards he set last season.
But in striking first to pacify the pulsing PAOK crowd, the Cape Verde international exploded back onto the scene.
A long ball over the top allowed McGrath to drill a pass Duk’s way, with the forward effortlessly and brutally providing a touch, turn, and finish to forge an away lead.
The equaliser was similarly out of nowhere, as a quick home break ended with a clinical finish from the veteran Taison to dampen the visitors’ spirit.
After going close from a fizzed Graham Shinnie cross, Aberdeen had to soak up pressure.
Slobodan Rubezic poked the ball of his own post; Stefan Schwab just missed Taison’s outrageous pass. Melees and madness, but Aberdeen survived to the break. Just.
Beside an early rocket from Giannis Konstantelias, which was tipped around a post by Kelle Roos, the visitors once again found shape and fortitude to frustrate the Greek side.
Their resolve was broken though in disappointingly soft fashion as a second ball looped into the box was nodded home by Samatta.
The memory of PAOK’s cruel comeback at Pittodrie remained fresh in Aberdeen minds, so when McGrath slammed home from distance, a sense of revenge was rife in their ranks.
That home sucker-punch was sealed by a VAR awarded penalty, but this time, technology was Aberdeen’s saviour. Kostantinos Koulierakis’ stumble to the deck was both soft and from an offside position.
Robson’s men needed to throw everything forward to keep their European dreams alive, but were instead forced to fend for their lives as qualification moved beyond their reach.
Player of the match – Nicky Devlin (Aberdeen)
What could have been for Aberdeen – analysis
This game exemplified Aberdeen’s entire continental campaign, one that will be looked back on with thoughts of what could have been.
Disappointment in Frankfurt. Frustration against Helsinki. Heartbreak at home to PAOK. Throughout the group stage, Robson’s side just couldn’t get over the line despite some flashes of belonging at this level.
In Greece, they were unfazed by a formidable crowd and unawed by admirable opposition. PAOK demolished Hearts earlier this season, but in two games against Aberdeen, they were asked serious questions.
A defence that has been ropey at times in the Premiership looked relatively assured, as the entire team stayed compact to conceal the space in which PAOK thrive.
Duk’s devastating opener will give the manager hope that he can once again impress in domestic competition, especially beside his old pal Miovski, whose presence may have just bolstered the visitors’ belief that wee bit more.
With thoughts of progression now firmly in the rear-view mirror, Aberdeen’s focus now must fully be on the road ahead.
They no longer have European excuses, and must start the charge sooner rather than later if they are to return to the stage from which the curtain has now fallen.
What’s next?
It is another tough task at the weekend as they head to play Celtic on Sunday (14:30 GMT) before their next Conference League outing at HJK Helsinki on Thursday, 30 November (19:45).
Line-ups
PAOK Salonika
Formation 4-2-3-1
- 42Kotarski
- 20Vieira de FreitasBooked at 34minsSubstituted forKedzioraat 82′minutes
- 15Troost-Ekong
- 4KoulierakisBooked at 90mins
- 21BabaSubstituted forSoares Alvesat 85′minutes
- 6TsingarasBooked at 45minsSubstituted forOzdoevat 65′minutes
- 22Schwab
- 77DespodovSubstituted forZivkovicat 82′minutes
- 7Konstantelias
- 11Taison
- 71ThomasSubstituted forSamattaat 65′minutes
Substitutes
- 5Michailidis
- 8Meïté
- 10Murg
- 14Zivkovic
- 16Kedziora
- 18Zivkovic
- 19Lyratzis
- 27Ozdoev
- 29Vrakas
- 33Samatta
- 55Soares Alves
- 95Tzimas
Aberdeen
Formation 5-4-1
- 24Roos
- 2Devlin
- 6Gartenmann
- 33Rubezic
- 5Jensen
- 3MacKenzie
- 23DuncanSubstituted forHayesat 61′minutesBooked at 63mins
- 8Barron
- 4ShinnieSubstituted forPolvaraat 61′minutes
- 7McGrathSubstituted forMiovskiat 78′minutes
- 11Henriques de Barros LopesSubstituted forSoklerat 85′minutes
Substitutes
- 9Miovski
- 10Clarkson
- 14Guèye
- 17Hayes
- 18R Williams
- 19Sokler
- 21Polvara
- 27MacDonald
- 28Milne
- 30Dadia
- 31Doohan
- 32Marshall
Live Text
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Match ends, PAOK Salonika 2, Aberdeen 2.
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Second Half ends, PAOK Salonika 2, Aberdeen 2.
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Konstantinos Koulierakis (PAOK Salonika) is shown the yellow card.
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Foul by Konstantinos Koulierakis (PAOK Salonika).
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Dante Polvara (Aberdeen) wins a free kick in the defensive half.
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Attempt blocked. Magomed Ozdoev (PAOK Salonika) left footed shot from the right side of the box is blocked. Assisted by Tomasz Kedziora.
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Corner, PAOK Salonika. Conceded by Jack MacKenzie.
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Attempt blocked. Andrija Zivkovic (PAOK Salonika) left footed shot from the right side of the box is blocked. Assisted by Magomed Ozdoev.
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Foul by Konstantinos Koulierakis (PAOK Salonika).
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Nicky Devlin (Aberdeen) wins a free kick in the defensive half.
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Corner, PAOK Salonika. Conceded by Slobodan Rubezic.
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Attempt blocked. Taison (PAOK Salonika) right footed shot from outside the box is blocked.
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Taison (PAOK Salonika) wins a free kick in the attacking half.
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Foul by Dante Polvara (Aberdeen).
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Attempt missed. Giannis Konstantelias (PAOK Salonika) right footed shot from outside the box is high and wide to the right following a corner.
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Corner, PAOK Salonika. Conceded by Jack MacKenzie.
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Attempt blocked. Stefan Schwab (PAOK Salonika) left footed shot from the centre of the box is blocked.
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Attempt missed. William Troost-Ekong (PAOK Salonika) header from the centre of the box misses to the left. Assisted by Rafa Soares with a cross following a corner.
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Corner, PAOK Salonika. Conceded by Dante Polvara.
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Attempt blocked. Taison (PAOK Salonika) right footed shot from outside the box is blocked. Assisted by Giannis Konstantelias.
Player of the match
McGrathJamie McGrath
PAOK Salonika
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Squad number7Player nameKonstantelias
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Squad number15Player nameTroost-Ekong
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Squad number4Player nameKoulierakis
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Squad number20Player nameVieirinha
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Squad number42Player nameKotarski
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Squad number14Player nameZivkovic
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Squad number21Player nameBaba
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Squad number6Player nameTsingaras
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Squad number11Player nameTaison
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Squad number22Player nameSchwab
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Squad number77Player nameDespodov
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Squad number27Player nameOzdoev
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Squad number16Player nameKedziora
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Squad number55Player nameRafa Soares
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Squad number33Player nameSamatta
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Squad number71Player nameThomas
Aberdeen
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Squad number7Player nameMcGrath
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Squad number3Player nameMacKenzie
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Squad number11Player nameDuk
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Squad number2Player nameDevlin
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Squad number24Player nameRoos
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Squad number8Player nameBarron
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Squad number6Player nameGartenmann
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Squad number4Player nameShinnie
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Squad number5Player nameJensen
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Squad number33Player nameRubezic
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Squad number23Player nameDuncan
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Squad number9Player nameMiovski
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Squad number21Player namePolvara
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Squad number19Player nameSokler
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Squad number17Player nameHayes
Olivia Martin is a dedicated sports journalist based in the UK. With a passion for various athletic disciplines, she covers everything from major league championships to local sports events, delivering up-to-the-minute updates and in-depth analysis.