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Christian Ramirez at the double as Aberdeen triumph over Breidablik in Iceland

Christian Ramirez at the double as Aberdeen triumph over Breidablik in Iceland
© Reuters
The American helped his side to a 3-2 victory in the first leg of their Europa Conference League third qualifying round tie.

Christian Ramirez hit a double as Aberdeen beat Breidablik 3-2 in Iceland.

The American striker netted early in each half as the Dons took command at the midway stage of the Europa Conference League third qualifying round.

The Dons made a flying start, converting from two corners inside 11 minutes through Ramirez and Lewis Ferguson.

They were undone by two long, diagonal balls as the home side went in at half-time on level terms after a goal from Gisli Eyjolffsson and an Arni Vilhjalmsson penalty.

But Ramirez netted his fourth goal for Aberdeen in the 49th minute of his fourth game for the Dons.

The United States international had taken less than three minutes to open the scoring following a well-worked corner. The striker peeled off to meet Calvin Ramsay's low delivery and fired home.

Ramirez soon latched on to a ball over the top from Jay Emmanuel-Thomas and powered a first-time effort that was pushed over the bar.

The Dons doubled their lead from the resulting corner when Ferguson rose well to head into the top corner from eight yards.

The home side soon pulled one back in the 16th minute. Ross McCrorie was outmuscled after a long ball bounced into the box and he brought down his man. But the grounded striker managed to knock the ball across goal for Eyjolffsson to get in front of Jack MacKenzie and net before the referee could blow for a penalty.

Jonny Hayes was too high with a long-range effort with the home goalkeeper stranded and Funso Ojo had a decent effort saved, but Aberdeen were caught out again two minutes before the break.

Ramsay slipped after a ball down the left was knocked into the Dons box and Andrew Considine made a rash challenge on Vilhjalmsson, who picked himself up and converted the spot-kick.

Aberdeen manager Stephen Glass made a triple substitution at the break with Declan Gallagher, Connor McLennan and Dylan McGeouch coming on.

The changes paid instant dividends as McLennan took down a long ball and squared for Ramirez to sweep home.

The hosts lost their discipline for a spell and Vilhjalmsson was fortunate to escape a second yellow card in five minutes for a blatant trip on Ramsay.

Aberdeen managed the second half well and Ramirez saw a header saved as he looked for his hat-trick.

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General view of Aberdeen's Pittodrie Stadium from 2008
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TeamPWDLFAGDPTS
Championship Group
1Celtic220085275884
2RangersRangers220078255381
3Hearts20114637963
4Kilmarnock20114438652
5St Mirren21014246-446
6Dundee20024659-1341
Relegation Group
1Hibernian21014854-642
2Aberdeen22003749-1241
3Motherwell21015053-340
4Ross County21013459-2533
5St Johnstone20022550-2531
RLivingston21012563-3821
 
First Phase
1Celtic33246380265478
2RangersRangers33243672234975
3Hearts33195946341262
4Kilmarnock33131284334951
5St Mirren33127143843-543
6Dundee331011124454-1041
7Hibernian33912124451-739
8Motherwell33813124651-537
9Aberdeen33811143549-1435
10St Johnstone33710162446-2231
11Ross County3379173256-2430
RLivingston3339212259-3718


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