Aberdeen are heading home with an away goal but with work to do if they are to continue their Europa League campaign following a 2-1 defeat to Kairat of Kazakhstan in the third qualifying round first leg.
Two goals inside the opening 22 minutes put the home side in control but a fine away goal from substitute Kenny McLean gives the Dons hope heading into next week’s second leg at Pittodrie.
Dons manager Derek McInnes made just one change to the side which drew 2-2 with HNK Rijeka at Pittodrie last week with Peter Pawlett restored to the starting line-up in place of Kenny McLean, who dropped to the bench.
Kairat manager Vladimir Weiss was without star striker Gerard Gohou. His partner in attack, Sito Riera, also missed out.
Despite missing their two attacking players the Kazakhstan Premier League leaders dominated the Dons in the opening exchanges and their early pressure paid off in the 13th minute when midfielder Mikhail Bakayev finished off a fine team move by evading a sliding challenge from Ashton Taylor to fire past Danny Ward in the Aberdeen goal.
The Dons responded well to losing the goal but they wasted a great chance to draw level through Jonny Hayes when the midfielder headed Niall McGinn’s cross over the crossbar.
The home side took full advantage of Hayes’ missed opportunity as they doubled their lead in spectacular fashion when the Dons defence stood off midfielder Bauyrzhan Islamkhan and he beat Ward with a tremendous 30 yard strike.
The Dons had a penalty appeal turned down after Ukrainian midfielder Anatoliy Tyoshchuk appeared to handle the ball in the box while Pawlett just failed to get on the end of a ball into the box but the Dons could not pull a goal back before the half time interval.
Despite being 2-0 down at the break McInnes saw enough to believe there was a goal to be had for his side and he sent last season’s top scorer Adam Rooney on for Pawlett for the second half, reverting to a 4-4-2 formation with the 28 goal attacker partnering David Goodwillie in attack.
Hayes, who had been playing as left wing back in a back five, moved back to wide left of midfield with Andy Considine reverting to full back.
But it was the home side who almost scored a third when Brazilian Isael spun away from Taylor to run clear but Ward made a fine save to turn his shot over the crossbar.
Kairat were content to sit deep and hit on the break and with the Dons struggling to create any clearcut chances Dorde Despotovic went close to making it 3-0, prompting Dons manager McInnes to make another substitution, sending on McLean for Goodwillie.
The substitution was an inspired one as the former St Mirren man drove forward before latching on to a ricochet and firing the ball past Kairat goalkeeper Vladimir Plotnikov to give the Dons a valuable away goal and spark celebrations among the 65 members of the travelling support.
There was late drama as Kairat pushed forward for a third in the closing stages with Ward denying Serginho with a fingertip save in the final minute. From the resulting corner Stanislav Lunin struck the crossbar but the Dons held on to keep the tie alive for next week’s second leg.