Aberdeen explodes into UEFA Cup Round of 32

By: Ian Rose | December 20th, 2007

Up to this point, there was some luck involved. With only one point from three matches, the result of a home draw against Locomotiv Moscow, Aberdeen were still in range of advancing in the UEFA Cup tonight by way of other results. Four points wouldn’t be enough to qualify in a lot of groups. Still, the circumstances take none of the shine off of the result today, as Dons crushed Copenhagen 4-0 to move through to the UEFA Cup Round of 32.

The Dons’ first victory of this year’s European campaign was worth the wait, with a brace from Jamie Smith and a late killer from Ricky Foster. Copenhagen’s Mikael Antonnson did his part in killing the match as well, with an 82nd minute own goal from a badly deflected Lee Miller cross.

To me, and to many supporters of Scottish clubs outside of the Old Firm, this victory means more for Scottish football than any Celtic and Rangers win. Everyone knows what those two clubs can do, but true respect for our game only comes when our third-place team, whoever it may be, can also do damage of their own in Europe. It shows that we are more than two teams and the rest. There is quality in the SPL beyond the Old Firm, particularly in clubs like Hibernian and Aberdeen.

Dons and Rangers will both find out who they will face in the round of 32 tomorrow, as both the UEFA Cup and Champions League hold their respective draws. Good luck to both sides. For the first time in thirty years, three Scottish teams are still active in Europe past the new year, and as an SPL fan, I couldn’t ask for a better Christmas present than that.