Combining great performance and efficiency, AEK achieved its first victory in the League Phase of the Conference League, demolishing Aberdeen 6–0 at the OPAP Arena.

Essentially, the Union “settled” the match before even the first half was completed, with two goals by Koita (11’, 18’) and one by Eliasson (27’), while later Marin (55’), Jović (81’), and Kutessa (87’) also scored.

Thus, it celebrated its first home win in a European group stage after 15 years and at the same time earned its first points after two matchdays.

The 6–0 equals AEK’s biggest European win (6–0 against Grevenmacher in August 2001).

As is evident from the progression of the score, Aberdeen served as the ideal opponent for AEK to get… back on its feet after its recent mediocre performances in Greece and Europe.

Unprepared, the Scots conceded two goals within 20 minutes from the classic move of Aboubakary Koita: in the 11th minute from outside the area after an individual effort, in the 18th minute inside the box from Rota’s pass.

In both cases, from a diagonal position on the left, he finished with his left foot into Mitov’s “opposite” corner. In the 27th minute, AEK stole the ball during Aberdeen’s build-up, Pineda passed to Eliasson, and he made it 3–0.

In between (17’) Relvas had a header hit the post, as did Vida with a header in the 37th minute, while Nikolić’s team created another two or three chances and the score could have taken on… monstrous proportions.

At its third post, AEK was… rewarded with a goal, when Pierrot’s shot hit Mitov’s upright, but the incoming Marin entered the net along with the ball to make it 4–0 in the 55th minute.

The 5–0 was shaped by Jović in the 81st minute, after he avoided the goalkeeper with a fine move in the small area, while the final score on the board was “signed” by Dereck Kutessa in the 87th minute.

The match closed with yet another post (!) from a Vida header in the 90th minute.

A very poor team, Aberdeen surrendered without a fight to AEK, which boosted its morale sharply ahead of the derby with Olympiacos on Sunday in Faliro.

The lineups:

AEK (Marko Nikolić): Strakosha, Rota (77’ Gacinović), Vida, Relvas, Penrice, Marin (69’ Ljubičić), Mantalos (77’ Grujić), Pineda, Eliasson, Koita (64’ Kutessa), Pierrot (69’ Jović).

ABERDEEN (Jimmy Bo Telin): Mitov, Milne, Knuster, Devlin, Jensen, Keskinen, Sini (46’ Polvara), Armstrong (62’ Clarkson), Karlsson (72’ Yeni), Ausis (46’ Palaversa), Lazić.