Clinical Aberdeen cruise past FCK

Aberdeen FC will play European football after Christmas for the first time in 22 seasons thanks to four second-half goals taking them past FC København and into the UEFA Cup Round of 32.

Smith strikes
FCK were two points ahead of Aberdeen in the third and final qualifying position in Group B at kick-off, and the visitors were on course to go through after an even first half at Pittodrie. But within ten minutes of the restart Jamie Smith had struck twice from distance before Atiba Hutchinson's own goal and substitute Ricky Foster's effort then confirmed the 1983 UEFA Cup Winners' Cup winners would take part in Friday’s draw.

First-half chances
The imperative was on Aberdeen to attack and on six minutes Lee Miller was sent clear but was unable to get a proper contact on his shot, which drifted wide. Later in the half James Langfield had to make a good save from Jesper Grønkjær, who then shot wide with only the Aberdeen goalkeeper to beat.

Smith celebrations
Langfield turned provider two minutes into the second half when his clearance found Smith 25 metres from goal. The striker chested down and on the half-volley brilliantly looped the ball over visiting goalkeeper Jesper Christiansen and into the net. Zander Diamond hit the side-netting from Aberdeen's next attack, although they only had to wait eight minutes for their second goal as Smith chased Miller's looped pass and finished clinically from just outside the box.

Win clinched
Ten minutes later Michael Hart set Smith through but he just missed out on a hat-trick. The third goal in fact arrived from Hutchinson as Miller's cross deflected off the Canadian midfielder and into his own net. FCK substitute Ailton Almeida hit the post before Foster had the last word as he turned in Chris Maguire's cross to the delight of the sell-out crowd.