What was a very entertaining match in Paisley turned on two key VAR decisions as Aberdeen snatched a dramatic late winner against 10-man St Mirren.
Alex Gogic thought he had headed Saints into the lead midway through the first half, only for the goal to be ruled out after a VAR review judged there had been an infringement on Aberdeen goalkeeper Kelle Roos.
The game continued to ebb and flow with both sides creating chances, but neither able to find a breakthrough.
However, VAR would intervene again in the second half — this time upgrading what had initially been a yellow card for St Mirren’s Jayden Richardson to a straight red for a dangerous tackle, leaving the hosts to play out the final stages with ten men.
With the man advantage, Aberdeen pressed forward and eventually found the decisive moment deep into stoppage time, when Mark Lazetic fired home in the 96th minute to seal a 1–0 win and end the Dons’ winless league run in Paisley stretching back almost seven years.
The result was harsh on St Mirren, who had battled bravely throughout, but it was Aberdeen’s persistence that paid off at the death.
St Mirren will now travel to face Dundee United next Saturday at 3pm in the Scottish Premiership, while Aberdeen head to Greece for a Europa Conference League tie against AEK Athens on Thursday evening at 5.45pm.
St Mirren: George, Fraser, Gogic, Freckleton, Richardson, Phillips, Baccus, O’Hara (c) (Idowu 67), John (Tanser 90), Nlundulu (Ayunga 68), Mandron (McMenamin 88)
Subs Not Used: Mullen, King, Donnelly, Dijksteel, Calvin
Aberdeen: Mitov, Jensen, Devlin, Knoester, Milne, Molloy (Dorrington 78), Shinnie (c) (Polvara 69), Armstrong, Aouchiche (Palaversa 69), Karlsson (Keskinen 69), Nisbet (Lazetic 63)
Subs Not Used: Suman, Clarkson, Milanovic, Kjartansson
Referee: Lloyd Wilson
AR1: Frank Connor
AR2: Sean Duff
VAR: Kevin Clancy
Attendance: 7,333
Photo: Saint’s Mark O’Hara races out of midfield to start an attack
Photo: Aberdeen’s Richard Jenson and Saint’s Declan John in a tussle for the ball
Photo: Saint’s Dan Nlundulu on the ball
Photo: Saint’s Mikael Mandron has his shot blocked by Aberdeen’s Stuart Armstrong
Photo: Saint’s Keanu Baccus passes through the Aberdeen defence
Photo: Saint’s Killian Phillips burst forward
Words and photos by Hugh McMIllan