Late goal denies Aberdeen victory in Macedonia

A late goal from Hristijan Kirovski has denied Aberdeen victory in Macedonia as the Dons played out a 1-1 draw in their Europa League qualifier against Shkendija.

The Dons settled into the match well and fired an early warning shot inside the opening five minutes as Ryan Jack directed a tame effort straight at the hosts' goalkeeper.

They pressed forward again 10 minutes later as Ash Taylor got his head to Andrew Considine's long throw-in, but was unable to hit the target.

Niall McGinn tried his luck as the half-hour mark approached, cutting in from the left before rifling an effort into the side-netting.

Dons goalkeeper Danny Ward was little more than a spectator in the first period, but he was called into action early in the second as a free kick from Besart Ibraimi cleared the wall and needed smothering.

A blunder from Ward almost handed the hosts the opening goal, but a vital interception from Paul Quinn denied Junior an easy tap-in from Ibraimi's cut-back as the game entered the closing stages.

McGinn thought he had won it for Aberdeen when he turned in Shay Logan's cross from close range with just over 10 minutes remaining, but the Dons were pegged back moments later.

Aberdeen have only an away goal to take back to Pittodrie Stadium in the return leg as Kirovski came off the bench to plant a header straight into the top corner with his first touch, rescuing a draw for Shkendija.