Jomo Cosmos 2 - 0 Aberdeen
HT Score: Jomo Cosmos 1 - 0 Aberdeen
16/07/2006 | KO: 16:00
Dons defeated by Jomo
The Dons will have a chance to gain revenge on their opponents as they play them again on Wednesday afternoon in Johannesburg.
The Dons lined up in 4-4-2 formation with Diamond partnered by Considine in the centre of defence and trailist Hamama at left back. Winter and Macaulay were in the middle of the park with Foster wide right and Maguire wide left. Crawford was partnered up front with Mackie. It was a very young looking Aberdeen side.
Cosmos, who were beaten 2-0 by Rangers on Friday night took the game straight to Aberdeen and went ahead after only 7 minutes. After fine play down the left the ball was crossed into the penalty area. There was a clever back heeler into the path of Chris Katongo and the player hit a great low shot from the edge of the box past Langfield.
Not the start the Dons wanted and they were obviously struggling with the hard pitch which gets used for cricket most of the year.
Cosmos could have put the match beyond doubt before the half-time interval. In the 23nd minute Calvin Kadi missed a good opportunity with Langfield stranded. Lucky Mhlathe also missed a good chance when he blasted over the crossbar. Aberdeen rarely threatened and apart from a Jamie Winter shot which went narrowly wide and a couple of corners there was little of note from the Dons as an attacking force.
Jimmy Calderwood decided to make some chances at the interval with Friday night's goal scoring hero John Stewart replacing Darren Mackie and Jamie Smith coming on for Chris Maguire who took a nasty knock on his ankle.
The changes initially seemed to work as the Dons came out strongly and earned themselves a corner but it came to nothing.
Cosmos then wasted another glorious chance as this time Abraham Guie Guie hit his effort over the bar. The hosts then put the game beyond the Dons in the 73 minute but the goal was highly controversial. Sam Magalefa played a straight through ball past Diamond and Considine to Anthony Laffor who looked yards off-side, but the referee waved play on and Laffor calmly slotted the ball past Langfield.
Calderwood then made a number of changes with Byrne coming on for Hamama, who had a quiet afternoon, Touzani replacing Donald and shortly afterwards Dempsey swapping with Winter and Nicholson with Macaulay. With a more experienced side on the park Aberdeen finished the game the stronger side and had a number of chances. A Cosmos defender sliced the ball over his own goal and Touzani had a shot which just went wide.
Afterwards Jimmy Caldwerwood was disappointed with the performance but will be pleased that almost everyone has now had a game on the tour. The only player who has not played so far is Steve Lovell but he trained yesterday and today and will hopefully be fit for the re-match.
Pittodrie Stadium, Aberdeen AB24 5QH