Europa League: Aberdeen beat Apollon Limassol 2-1 at Pittodrie

The Dons skipper capped an inspirational display by swerving a 25-yard effort into the top corner in the 78th minute of the third qualifying-round first leg.

Aberdeen have lost at this stage for three seasons running and conceding the opener in 1-1 draws at Pittodrie ultimately cost them in narrow aggregate losses to Kairat Almaty and Maribor in the past two years.

So they seemed determined to impose themselves and were rewarded when Ryan Christie headed Gary Mackay-Steven's clipped cross over the goalkeeper and into the far corner of the net in the fifth minute.

Apollon - who have twice reached the group stages in the past four years - levelled in the 59th minute through Brazilian full-back Jander but saw their manager and other full-back, Esteban Sachetti, sent off before the Dons took control.

Aberdeen were without main goalscorer Adam Rooney after the Irishman suffered a hamstring strain but the 20,085 crowd had barely digested that news when Christie added to the goal and two assists he notched in the previous round against Bosnia's Siroki Brijeg.

Crosses from Mackay-Steven and Shay Logan soon had the Cypriot side scrambling to clear and Andrew Considine had a header saved.

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Shinnie had been booked early on for a hard but ball-winning challenge but Finnish referee Mattias Gestranius displayed several bouts of leniency towards Apollon, especially when only showing a yellow card to Argentinian Sachetti following a very late, two-footed tackle on Greg Stewart.

Limassol, who had only one Cypriot in their line-up, were committing men forward. But the Dons' high pressing was restricting the service and Christie shot just wide from 25 yards with the goalkeeper beaten as they finished the half strongly.

Aberdeen stayed on top immediately after the interval. Mackay-Steven could not find a team-mate after twice getting free and the ubiquitous Shinnie forced a save after bursting into the box.

However, Limassol posted several warnings before levelling when Santana met an Antonio Jakolis cross at the back post and got in front of Mackay-Steven to finish high into the net.

Visiting manager Sofronis Augousti was immediately sent to the stand after coming on to the pitch to hand out instructions and Derek McInnes brought on Kari Arnason and Jayden Stockley for Mackay-Steven and Nicky Maynard, who had looked short of sharpness on his first start for the club.

Christie soon forced a decent stop before being caught by the arm of Sachetti in the 71st minute to consign the defender to a second yellow card. 

The Dons took the initiative and Stewart screwed well wide after a one-two with Christie before Shinnie took matters into his own hands.

The visitors were content to keep the score at 2-1 and Stockley headed wide from a decent chance in the last minute.

Aberdeen manager Derek McInnes hailed Shinnie for his brilliant winner. "Obviously we need somebody to step up and get that winning goal and what a strike from Shinnie," he said.

"There could not be any more love for Graeme Shinnie from our supporters. He plays the game exactly how supporters want their players to play. But when he produces that quality as well, it shows you exactly what he is. It meant so much to get that result. It's half-time and we have got to go there and show the confidence to get the result."

The Dons were without main goalscorer Adam Rooney due to a hamstring strain but the Irishman could be on the flight to Cyprus.

"He's got a chance," McInnes said. "The assessment from the scan was at worst week to 10 days so we are hoping it heals pretty quickly. We obviously don't want to take any risks with tears in the thigh. I would say he is 50-50 to make the flight and hopefully be involved."

Apollon manager Sofronis Avgousti felt the 71st-minute red card was pivotal. Sachetti had been booked earlier for a terrible tackle on Greg Stewart and the Argentinian paid the price for throwing his arm into Christie's face.

Avgousti, who was sent to the stand himself after coming on to the pitch following his side's equaliser, said: "I believe that if it was 11 against 11 we would have won the game. We were putting them under pressure at that point. Also the player that was sent off was a key player and we missed him."