Unlike the Fir Park meeting last October, which produced no fewer than eleven goals, neither keeper was tested in the early stages, as both the Dons and Well seemed content to treat the game as little more than a training exercise.
Following an even opening period, the visitors took the lead midway through the first half when a Kevin Twaddle cross was fired home by John Spencer. The former Morton player injured himself making the cross and was immediately replaced by Pat Nevin.
The home side was jeered off at the break and after starting the second period in much the same fashion as the first, boss Ebbe Skovdahl replaced Robbie Winters with Zerouali in 56 minutes.
With his first possession, the Moroccan fired in a wicked low cross which Arild Stavrum just failed to connect with. The Dons upped the tempo, bringing on Belabed and Rutkiewicz for Guntveit and Bernard, but still could not break down a resolute Well defence.
When Stavrum headed a gilt edged chance over the bar with time running out, it looked as though it was going to be another ninety minutes of what might have been. However, with 92 minutes on the clock, Zerouali fired a great left foot shot past a static Goram who appeared to think the ball was going wide. The Moroccan celebrated with his now traditional forward flip, before running towards a small group of his fellow countrymen in the Main Stand.
F.T. ABERDEEN 1 MOTHERWELL 1