Aberdeen Tactics Watch: What will be needed in Bucharest and how Jimmy Thelin’s Dons rescued a draw against FCSB at Pittodrie
Due to two reckless mistakes that FCSB mercilessly converted, the Dons will be upset to have given the initiative to their opponents. Thelin attempted to take advantage of FCSB’s Juri Cisotti’s red card late in the first half by making three smart replacements at halftime, but the ten-man visitors extended their lead just fifty seconds after the break. The goal’s timing dealt a severe damage to the Dons’ hopes of qualifying for the Europa League and may have eliminated them from the match. However, a ferocious Pittodrie crowd buoyed the Dons, and they roared back with goals from Ester Sokler and Dante Polvara, who were replacements.
The Romanian champions were positioned from the beginning to keep Aberdeen in check and calm the boisterous Pittodrie fans. Out of possession, the visitors formed a tight 4-4-2 formation and maintained a well-organised defensive block. The Dons controlled the majority of the possession throughout because FCSB felt at ease sitting deep and protecting their own penalty box. After the visitors were reduced to ten men, Aberdeen gained 80% of the possession in the second half, further solidifying their territorial control. Aberdeen has often struggled to break down opponents who are seated in low blocks, so when the visitors increased their lead, the game started to seem a little too familiar.
However, Thelin’s substitutions—especially the addition of goal scorers Polvara and Sokler and Leighton Clarkson, who quickened the pace of the Reds’ offensive play—were crucial in changing the outcome of the match. While Sokler’s arrival provided a penalty box presence that has been severely lacking from the Dons’ league performances this season, Polvara’s ferocious drive in off the post in just three minutes gave his team a lifeline. Graeme Shinnie, the captain of the Dons, deserves special recognition for bringing much-needed vigour and ferocity to the team’s performance.
As FCSB tried to push the Dons out wide, the visitors tried to absorb waves of Aberdeen attacks, which mostly came from crossing possibilities. Aberdeen attempted 47 crosses on Thursday, which was much greater than the Dons’ league average for the 2024–25 season (22 crosses per game), according to the match statistics. Actually, Aberdeen only made one effort at more crosses last season, in the March 2-2 draw at Pittodrie against Dundee United. It’s interesting to note that the game followed a well-known pattern, with Aberdeen fighting back to earn a draw with a late equaliser after the visitors had taken a two-goal lead.
Aberdeen faced a small defensive block that was quite effective at defending its own penalty box on both occasions. Aberdeen regularly searched for early crossing opportunities to counter this, before the FCSB backline could establish a stable defensive structure. Alexander Jensen curled a menacing first-time cross deep into the visitors’ box, but striker Kusini Yengi was unable to connect, demonstrating this strategy in the first few minutes. Ante Palaversa, a midfielder for the Dons, quickly sent the FCSB defence reeling with a teaseful cross. The Dons’ aggressive intent was evident right away, but Yengi once more failed to make a significant impression.
Jensen did a good job of drawing pressure from two FCSB players out wide during the build-up, giving Palaversa time to pick his cross from deep without being marked. FCSB was obliged to defend in numbers as a result of Thelin’s encouragement of his wide men to attack the penalty box in support of Yengi and Aouchiche. The Dons frontline gained more attacking instinct when Sokler was brought on at halftime. The striker timed his runs well to take advantage of crossing opportunities. In this instance, Jack Milne, a defender for the Dons, carries the ball forward unchallenged and crosses from deep.
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