Aberdeen and Berlin scoreless at break

Aberdeen 0, Hertha Berlin 0 (half-time)

Spirited Aberdeen drew a blank in the opening 45 minutes against Hertha Berlin in their UEFA Cup first leg at Pittodrie.

The home side were slightly the more industrious in a tame first half but failed to break through the disciplined German side’s defence who played well within themselves.

As the first half went on the Dons continued to have the upper hand but without really looking as if they could break the visitors’ defence down.

Dons midfielder Robert Bisconti was on the receiving end of some furious Hertha tackles as the game heated up.

The visitors began to up their game a little. On the half hour a poor Kjaer clearance landed at the feet of Hertha’s Bart Goor but the midfielder’s cross into the box was weakly headed by Luizao and the keeper gathered comfortably.

Moments later Hertha skipper Jolly Sverrisson sent a tame header into the hands of Kjaer from 12 yards out.

But the home side retaliated and after 38 minutes a great Laurent D’Jaffo header from six yards, after good work from Darren Mackie, drew a great save from Kiraly.