Europa League

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Europa League Qualifying | Second Qualifying Round

Jul 26, 2018 at 7.45pm UK

Aberdeen
1-1
Burnley

Mackay-Steven (19' pen.)

FT(HT: 1-0)

Vokes (80')

Sam Vokes earns Burnley first-leg draw at Pittodrie

By Daniel Lewis, Senior Reporter | 26 July 2018

Sam Vokes equalises 10 minutes from time as Burnley claim a 1-1 draw from the first leg of their Europa League qualifier away to Aberdeen.

Burnley have earned a 1-1 draw against Aberdeen in the first leg of their Europa League second qualifying round tie, courtesy of a late Sam Vokes volley.

The Wales international came off the bench to snatch a crucial away goal for the visitors, cancelling out Gary Mackay-Steven's first-half penalty and giving the Clarets the advantage heading into next week's return fixture.

Shortly before the twist 10 minutes from time, replacement keeper Anders Lindegaard produced an impressive save to keep out Mackay-Steven from close range in a well-contested all-British derby clash.

Burnley striker Sam Vokes celebrates after equalising his side in their Europa League qualifier with Aberdeen © Reuters

Aberdeen allowed their opponents to take control of possession in the first half, but it was the hosts who enjoyed the better of the rare openings.

Niall McGinn sent an angled shot wide of the target after his initial cross, crying out for a touch, went right the way through the box and back to him.

Burnley were dealt a blow by the loss of Nick Pope to a shoulder injury 14 minutes in, and with Tom Heaton also injured due to a minor knock it was down to Lindegaard to take over.

Burnley goalkeeper Nick Pope picks up an injury during his side's Europa League qualifying match against Aberdeen © Reuters

Five minutes later German referee Daniel Siebert pointed to the penalty spot after James Tarkowski made slight contact with Sam Cosgrove inside the area, allowing Mackay-Steven - on penalty duty following the recent exit of Adam Rooney - to tuck away from 12 yards.

Lindegaard then kept out a weak edge-of-the-box shot from Graeme Shinnie, before Chris Wood and Johann Berg Gudmundsson sent efforts high and wide respectively in the minutes leading up to half time.

Burnley stepped things up in search of a leveller, with Jack Cork's close-range header somehow being kept out by Joe Lewis, before Aaron Lennon fired the ball back across goal.

Aberdeen's Graeme Shinnie reacts with Scott McKenna during their Europa League qualifying clash with Burnley on July 26, 2018 © Reuters

The match became more open for the final 30 minutes, but it was Aberdeen who were looking the more likely to score as Cosgrove drove the ball into the hands of Lindegaard, and the replacement keeper then pushed Mackay-Steven's header around the post from point-blank range.

That would prove to be a crucial save as, after Gudmundsson and Vokes were wayward with their attempts, the latter found a way through to temporarily silence the home crowd.

Burnley manager Sean Dyche reacts during his side's Europa League qualifying clash with Aberdeen on July 26, 2018 © Reuters

Vokes managed to get in between Michael Devlin and Scott McKenna, taking advantage of an awkward bounce to emphatically volley the ball out of Lewis's reach after showing good strength and control.

The two sides will meet again next Thursday evening at Turf Moor, with the winners to face Turkish side Istanbul Basaksehir for a place in the competition proper.

ABERDEEN (4-3-3): Lewis; Logan, Devlin, McKenna, Hoban; Ferguson (Gleeson 57'), Shinnie, Ball; Mackay-Steven, Cosgrove (May 76'), McGinn (Wright 79')

BURNLEY (4-5-1): Pope (Lindegaard 14'); Lowton, Tarkowski, Mee, Ward; Hendrick (Vokes 57'), Cook, Westwood, Gudmundsson, Lennon; Wood