Aberdeen drop to Conference League after playoff defeat to BK Hacken

Aberdeen have dropped into the Conference League after losing their Europa League playoff tie to BK Hacken at Pittodrie.

The Swedish side ran out 3-1 winners on Thursday night to secure a 5-3 aggregate win and consign the Dons to the third tier European competition.

It means all three remaining Scottish sides in Europe will be in different competitions with Celtic in the Champions League and Rangers in Europa.

Aberdeen went into the game knowing a win in-front of their home support would be enough to secure a place in the groups of the continent’s second tier competition.

It came following their comeback draw in Gothenburg when they recorded a 2-2 first leg draw after being two goals down last week,

But Hacken threw a spanner in the works when Ibrahim Sadiq scored an early goal to put the Swedes 1-0 up on the night and 3-2 on aggregate.

And the Scottish sides chances diminished even further when the Ghanian scored his second of the night to put the visitors 2-0 up before half-time.

Barry Robson’s side looked to fight back and they were thrown a bone to get back in the tie when the referee awarded them a penalty after a VAR check after Duk was fouled in the box.

Bojan Miovski, who also scored in the first-leg, put the keeper the wrong way to make it 2-1 on the night and 4-3 on aggregate with 35 minutes remaining.

But with ten minutes remaining Hacken secured their place in Friday’s Europa League when Tunisian forward Amor Layouni scored from the spot to make it 3-1.

Robson’s men will turn their attention back to league action on Sunday with a home game against Hibs who exited Europe altogether on Thursday with a defeat at Villa Park.