Atlanta XI 0 - 1 Aberdeen

MATCH REPORT

The Dons and Atlanta faced each other for the first time since the strategic partnership was announced in 2019. Hosted at the Children?s Healthcare of Atlanta Training Ground, the match was played in freezing cold conditions more reminiscent of the north-east of Scotland.

Joe Lewis was called into action early when he saved a shot from Sebhatu, the home side making a decent start to the game.

The Dons almost profited from an Atalanta mistake on 11 minutes when goalkeeper Guerra blasted the ball off the back of Christian Ramirez but the it looped just over the bar to the relief of the home keeper.

There was an injury concern for The Dons on the 17^th minute when Ramirez was tackled by Twumasi. After some treatment though the American was able to continue while the Atlanta player picked up a yellow card.

Leighton Clarkson drew another save from Guerra on the 20^th minute when the ball fell to him in the penalty area but his effort was palmed away.

Aberdeen were forced into a change on the half hour when Besuijen was forced off with an injury, Duk replacing him.

Morris won a free kick down the right which Kennedy played in towards Clarkson. He couldn't gather the ball but after a strammash in the box, the ball fell to Coulson who found Kennedy. His ball back in from the edge of the box was headed over by Jack Milne who was waiting on the penalty spot.

There were few clear-cut opportunities for The Dons in the first period with only a Kennedy free kick really forcing Guerra into any meaningful action.

HT 0-0

The Dons made a further change at the break with Adam Emslie replacing Christian Ramirez. The second half got off to a low-key start, the only notable incident being a yellow card for Jack Milne.

On the hour mark, Jim Goodwin made a double change with Finlay Marshall and Dylan Lobban coming on for Shayden Morris and Hayden Coulson.

The first major chance of the second half fell to Adam Emslie when he drove down the left before cutting in and firing a shot narrowly wide of the target. Minutes later he had another effort at goal. After good play down the right the ball was worked across the box but Emslie couldn't get enough power on the shot and the keeper saved comfortably.

The breakthrough came just a few moments later, the ball falling to Leighton Clarkson on the edge of the box from a Kennedy corner and he unleashed a thunderous volley which flew into the back of the net.

Jack MacKenzie was then booked for a challenge on the 73^rd minute. A few minutes later there was a triple change for The Dons on the 80^th minute which saw Blessing Oluyemi, Blair McKenzie and Liam Harvey replaced Joe Lewis, Jack Milne & Duk as the game petered out.