Overview
- Aberdeen led through a Jesper Karlsson penalty before Shakhtar struck via Yehor Nazarene, Lucas Ferreira and Pedrinho, with Nicky Devlin’s header setting a late but unsuccessful push for an equaliser.
- Jimmy Thelin hailed passion and fight but criticised defensive lapses on Shakhtar’s second and third goals, urging his side to turn the display into a league win on Sunday.
- Nicky Devlin and Stuart Armstrong said the improved showing only matters if it leads to victory over Dundee, with Devlin calling the Premiership match a must-win.
- Summer arrivals Marko Lazetic, Karlsson and Stuart Armstrong impressed, with Lazetic’s debut leading to Devlin’s goal and a positive response from the Pittodrie crowd during a new back-three setup.
- Shakhtar arrived as Ukrainian Premier League leaders under Arda Turan, continue to operate in exile with European ‘home’ ties in Krakow, and remain fancied to progress despite injuries to recent Brazilian recruits.