Aberdeen's European adventure is over in terms of qualifying for the knockouts as they were knocked out of the Europa Conference League group stages after drawing 2-2 with PAOK in Greece - but the Dons can certainly hold their head high.
Knowing that they most likely needed to win in Thessaloniki with Eintracht Frankfurt clear favourites against HJK Helsinki in the other early Group G kick-off, it was an outstanding start for Barry Robson's men with Duk scoring a wonderful opener. A quick counter down the right-flank saw Nicky Devlin fire a drilled square ball into the feet of Duk, though he left him a lot to do. But that mattered little for the Portuguese youngster, who rolled his man and drilled beyond the helpless PAOK keeper to send the travelling fans barmy in the away end.
There's no doubting PAOK's quality though. They instantly got themselves level with a clinical counter attack that saw them break forward with four men to Aberdeen's three, and after working the ball well in the box, former Shakhtar Donetsk man Taison drilled home to level. For the majority of the game it was the Kelle Roos show; the Dutchman stood strong to so many efforts and crosses into the box and he was only undone by some good PAOK work. But it was in vein, seemingly, as former Aston Villa striker Mbwana Samatta cushioned a header home to turn the game on its head.
Yet the best moment of the game was to come just moments after the restart. Dons won a free kick 30 yards out, and with Jamie McGrath standing over it you'd have thought he wouldn't shoot with a number of attackers waiting for the cross. Yet the former Dundee United man arrowed a free-kick into the bottom corner to give Aberdeen a glimmer of hope.
It wasn't to be, and they won't partake in any knockout football beyond the winter period. But it's a cracking result and they can hold their heads high. Check out each kick as it happened with the recap from Record Sport's live blog here!
PAOK XI: Kotarski, Vieirinha, Troost-Ekong, Koulierakis, Baba, Tsingaras, Schwab, Despodov, Taison, Brandon, Konstantelias
Subs: Z.Zivkovic, Michailidis, Meite, Murg, Zivkovic, Kedziora, Lyratzis, Ozdoev, Vrakas, Samatta, Soares, Tzimas
Aberdeen starting XI: Roos, Devlin, MacKenzie, Shinnie, Jensen, Gartenmann, McGrath, Barron, Duk, Duncan, Rubezic
Subs: Doohan, Miovski, Clarkson, Gueye, Hayes, Williams, Sokler, Polvara, MacDonald, Milne, Dadia, Marshall
Dons go to UEFA over 'racial' abuse
Aberdeen have made an official complaint to UEFA after Pape Habib Gueye claimed he was racially abused by PAOK fans.
The Aberdeen substitute was allegedly the victim of chants from the home support during Thursday night's 2-2 Europa Conference League draw at the Toumba Stadium. It left the Senegal striker distraught and sparked an angry reaction from the Aberdeen bench towards the home fans as they celebrated Jamie McGrath’s equaliser, with the likes of Angus MacDonald and Rhys Williams getting involved with punters after the racial flashpoint.
Robson bursting with Dons pride
Proud Barry Robson watched his side give PAOK a bloody nose and then admitted it was a cruel way for his Aberdeen side to crash out of Europe.
The Dons battled back for a 2-2 draw in the Toumba Stadium but it wasn’t enough to keep them in the Conference League qualification hunt after Eintracht Frankfurt has beaten HJK. He said: "Was it a cruel way to go out? I think so, I’ve been so proud of the players and I’m disappointed for them. The fans gave the boys a standing ovation and that says it all.
FULL TIME! PAOK 2-2 Aberdeen
Well Aberdeen's chances of European knockout stages have come to an end - but you cannot take anything away from their performance here in Greece.
Duk's goal saw them lead, but you can't do anything about the undoubted quality that PAOK possess in Taison and the like.
Two goals for the home side saw them go 2-1 down with 15 to go, but Jamie McGrath's outstanding free kick saw them pull level almost instantly before an army of defenders kept them in it.
PAOK and Frankfurt qualify for the knockouts, but it's been some spectacle and Kelle Roos can hold his head especially high after a huge result.
Battled bravely
That final goal doesn't look like it's coming for Aberdeen, but even a 2-2 draw here is an oustanding result given the plethora of teams who have fallen foul to a loss at this venue.
Foul
Aberdeen win a free kick in their own area but it still means they are running out of time to clinch a win and still be in the hunt for a place in the knockout rounds...
Free kick on the edge
That's a foul by Dante Polvara on the corner of the area and this is a real chance for PAOK to nick it.
Prize money for the draw
It's still not the result Aberdeen would need, but a draw in the Europa Conference League group stages does earn a club €166,000 - equivalent to £145,000.
Don't want to be the one to tempt fate, but even a draw is advantageous to some extent.
We are into stoppage time in Greece as PAOK land their 11th corner...
Beaten out by Roos
Aberdeen are looking more combative in midfield but Kelle Roos is still being called into action.
Miovski wins a throw in deep in PAOK territory. It is now or never for the Dons.
Backs to the wall
It's everybody behind the ball now for the Dons as PAOK continue to pile on the pressure.
They need a winner if they're going to prolong their shout for qualification here.
Miovski enters the fray
He's a man for the big moments.
And boy, will Aberdeen be crying out for him to produce something magic with just over 10 minutes left here in Greece.
Dive discourse
In that situation, surely if Koulierakis has dived, it's a yellow card. It's a decision that could hinder the Dons as the centre-back would be a lot more careful on his feet with Aberdeen perhaps pushing for a winner.
To the screen!
The referee has signalled that he's gone to the screen.
It is clear to see that it's a blatant dive, but perhaps it is best just double checking...
No penalty!
Penalty to PAOK...or is it?
And that could be a sucker punch for the Dons.
Konstantelios whips the ball in, and McGrath goes from hero to villain as he seems to bring down Koulierakis...
But on reflection, it's a clear dive that Stephen Craigan has labelled a 'disgusting' one.
Surely this is overturned...
GOAL! DONS!
What a hit from Jamie McGrath!
Straight from kick-off, Aberdeen win a free-kick about 30 yards out from a long ball forward.
McGrath stands over it, and hits it right on the valve as it dips, swerves and arrows its way into the bottom left corner from distance to give Aberdeen a lifeline!
Some strike.
GOAL! PAOK!
That could be the goal that ends Aberdeen's European run.
The resulting corner is headed out of the area, but a second cross is recycled and is whipped back in.
Former Aston Villa striker Mbwana Samatta rises and wins the header that beats Roos as it drops into the bottom corner.
With Frankfurt leading, it's a tough ask for Aberdeen to win this game now to stay in the European picture.
Jensen foul
Richard Jensen wins the ball, but his second motion with his leg brings down a PAOK player right near the corner flag.
Despedov takes and looks to beat him all ends up into the top corner with a dipping free kick, but Roos is equal to the challenge.
He's had some game.
Dons subs
Jonny Hayes and Dante Polvara have come on for Ryan Duncan and Graeme Shinnie in a fresh change of legs for Robson's side.
Can they make an impact?
VAR check over
That would've been one of the worst in VAR history. Stefan Gartenmann goes toe-to-toe with Giannis Konstantelias in the area, and if anything at all, it's a slight nick on his ankle.
Tellingly, PAOK don't even scream for a penalty - but there's a relatively lengthy check that lasts for at least a minute.
Nothing doing in the end, though.
VAR
It was always going to be called into action tonight - but it may as well not have gone to those behind the screens.
It's a check for a penalty to PAOK here...
Brief pause
A slight stoppage in play as a PAOK player goes down with an injury inside his own box, though he's waved back on.
Just over half an hour for Aberdeen to find that all elusive goal if they're to qualify...
Duk getting jeers
He's not been the most likeable player to come to PAOK - a goal and some robust challenges means Duk is getting some jeers from the home crowd.
He goes shoulder to shoulder with a PAOK defender who cannons over the touchline, and the crowd don't like it.
Just wait until Miovski comes on!
Roos called into action
He's been a busy boy tonight.
A strike from distance is aimed a Roos' goal, and the Dutchman turns it behind for a corner.
It's swung deep, and a volley struck into the ground means Roos has to tip the ball over for another corner, which is eventually cleared.
Back underway!
Strap yourselves in - it's set to be another 45 minutes of pure drama in Thessaloniki.
Half time stats
For those who are into xG, it tells quite the story - PAOK boast 1.02 so far thanks to Taison’s effort, whilst Aberdeen have had just the 0.13 - all coming from Duk’s effort which has been Aberdeen’s only attempt.
It’s 70 per cent possession for the home side, whilst Aberdeen haven’t even had a corner which shows PAOK’s attacking nature.
But the only stat that matters is the one on the scoreboard - and that has the Dons Even Stevens at the interval.
HALF TIME!
That's the interval.
On the whole, it's been a superb display from the Dons. Duk's vintage goal when he channelled his inner Drogba sent the travelling fans barmy, but they were quickly pegged back by Taison.
They've held on valiantly since, but at the same time have shown they can go toe-to-toe with one of Greece's finest sides.
Stick with us in the second half for another 45 minutes of drama!
Frenetic
The Roos, the Roos, the Roos is on fire
Kelle Roos has been incredible tonight. He's not had to make that many saves but he's been commanding.
He gets his foot to a strong strike as it bobbles in and around his goal, evading the back of the net and eventually Rahman is ruled offside to buy him some breathing time.
So far, one of his finer games for the Dons.
Dilly dallying
Aberdeen just becoming a bit slack in defence here.
Stefan Gartenmann watches a ball across the six-yard box come across his body, but Stefan Schwab is coming in at the back post and the German just about realises and clears on onto the PAOK star as it sails over the bar.
Need to be more switched on if that isn't to happen again.
