BBC SPORT | Football | Uefa Cup | Narrow win for dismal Dons

Aberdeen 1-0 Nistru Otaci

Aberdeen put on a disappointing display as they eventually managed to overcome Moldovan side Nistru Otaci in the Uefa Cup.

Scotland under-21 striker Darren Mackie spared the home side's blushes with a second half headed goal as the tiny Pittodrie crowd watched their favourites struggle against a mediocre side.

Neither side could muster much in the way of meaningful attacks with the visitors largely content to sit back and Aberdeen lacking any invention or thrust until late in the game.

Thursday's Uefa Cup scores

The Dons have struggled in this competition in recent years, having exited at the hands of Irish part-timers Bohemians two years ago, and another insipid performance like this one could see them heading for another early departure in a fortnight's time.

A 4-0 home defeat at the hands of Celtic on Saturday was not the ideal preparation and manager Ebbe Skovdahl made two changes ahead of the qualifying round first leg tie.

Jamie McAllister and Leon Mike dropped to the bench in favour of Derek Young and Laurent D'Jaffo. Phil McGuire was included in the starting line-up, despite recent reports linking him with a move to Celtic.

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The Moldovans enjoyed the best of the early play and they called Dons goalkeeper Peter Kjaer into action after five minutes.

Sergiu Lascenov provided the cross for Yuriy Groshev to unleash - but the effort was easily held by the Aberdeen goalkeeper.

D'Jaffo watches his header go by
Laurent D'Jaffo went close with a header
Aberdeen's first chance came after 10 minutes when Derek Young supplied a cross from the right flank into the area and the ball was met by D'Jaffo, who nodded a couple of yards wide of the post.

The visitors' best chance came after 18 minutes when Serghei Pogreban flighted a cross into the path of Groshev - but he just failed to connect with the header in front of goal.

With 36 minutes gone, former Motherwell defender Eric Deloumeaux played the ball on to Derek Young just a few yards in front of goal but he just failed to connect.

The Pittodrie side came close a few seconds later when Otaci goalkeeper Serghei Dinov spilled an effort from Mackie. The ball fell into the path of Chris Clark but he could only fire into the side netting from a few yards out.

The breakthrough came for Aberdeen after 59 minutes. Deloumeaux nodded the ball on to Derek Young who made a run down the right flank.

He crossed the ball into the area to the waiting Mackie who gratefully bulleted a header into the back of the net from just outside the six-yard box.

The goal energised the home side, who played with more bite and purpose in the final half hour, but failed to carve out any decent openings in front of their opponents' goal.

A lapse in concentration from Deloumeaux allowed Groshev a glimpse at goal in the 82nd minute, but the Moldovan snatched at the chance and dragged the ball wide.

Aberdeen: Kjaer, Deloumeaux, Anderson, McGuire, McNaughton, Derek Young, Bisconti, Darren Young, Clark, Mackie, D'Jaffo. Subs: Preece, McAllister, Tiernan, Mike, O'Donoghue, Michie, Payne.

FC Nistru Otaci: Dinov, Kovalkov, Podgaetchii, Lascenov, Bursuc, Lupasco, Popescu, Groshev, Pogreban, Mincev, Blajco. Subs: Vunea, Maievici, Ianchuk, Starovyk, Matiura, Malitskyy, Kopisteanskii.

Referee: Tonny Poulsen (Denmark)