Aberdeen exited the Europa League after a 2-0 defeat by Apollon Limassol in the scorching heat of Larnaca with Dons supporters clashing with stewards at full-time.
The Dons were leading 2-1 after the first leg but Andre Schembri’s 17th-minute strike tipped the tie in the favour of Limassol who were heading through on away goals.
Derek McInnes’ side were much improved after the break but Limassol substitute Emilio Zelaya fired home a second with four minutes remaining to make sure of the tie.
It is the fourth year in a row that Aberdeen have been knocked out of the Europa League in the third qualifying round.
There was trouble in the Aberdeen end at full time with riot police called in to restore order.
Aberdeen made one alteration to the side that started at Pittodrie with Jayden Stockley preferred to Nicky Maynard in attack with last season’s top scorer Adam Rooney missing due to a thigh injury.
Limassol made two changes with Croatian Antonio Jakolis and Brazilian attacker Alef replacing Adrian Sardinero and the suspended Esteban Sachetti.
As expected, the Cypriots started the match at a high tempo and immediately put the Dons under pressure with Jander firing wide from distance.
The Dons created a chance of their own with Stockley setting up Andy Considine who headed wide before Graeme Shinnie failed to find the target from long range.
But disaster struck for the Dons after 17 minutes when an out-swinging cross from Jander caused all manner of problems in a crowded Aberdeen penalty area with Anton Maglica showing great strength and control to tee up Schembri who slotted home.
Thanks to their away goal at Pittodrie, the Cypriots were now in control of the tie but Ryan Christie went close to a spectacular leveller with a curling free kick that was clawed away by Bruno Vale.
There was a moment of controversy two minutes before the break when Limassol felt Stockley should have seen red after catching Charalambos Kyriakou with a flailing arm but the Dons forward got away with a yellow.
The Dons started the second half well, although some of that early momentum was lost when play was paused temporarily to allow smoke from the Limossol supporters’ flares to clear.
Stockley was replaced by Maynard before play was again halted by Swiss referee Stephan Klossner when a flare thrown by the home support landed in the Aberdeen goal.
Limassol looked increasingly dangerous on the counter-attack with Jander firing into the side-netting before Antonio Jakolis’ low drive was well stopped by Joe Lewis.
But Aberdeen weren’t going out without a fight and an excellent through ball from Maynard released Kenny McLean who rounded Limassol stopper Vale but was unable to apply the finishing touch.
There was another near-miss for the Dons soon after when Gary Mackay-Steven was denied at the back post by a last-ditch block by Limassol defender Valentin Roberge.
The drama continued at the other end when Limassol substitute Adrian Sardinero tumbled in the penalty area after a collision with Andy Considine but referee Stephan Klossner was unmoved.
Maynard was unfortunate when his flick-on from a Greg Tansey free kick was cleared off the line but it was the Cypriots who had the final say.
Joe Lewis made a magnificent stop to tip Marious Stylianou’s shot onto the bar but he was helpless as Zelaya smashed home the follow-up to send Aberdeen out of Europe.
