Ante Palaversa, Topi Keskinen, Vicente Besuijen and Kevin Nisbet scored in the second half as Aberdeen defeated Dundee 4-1 at Pittodrie to go top of the Scottish Premiership.
Simon Murray missed a penalty late in the first half for the visitors but partially redeemed himself with a header to lead 2-1 midway through the second half.
However, Besuijen scored just a minute later to restore Aberdeen’s two-goal lead before Nisbet added a fourth late on to ensure Jimmy Thelin’s side’s 100% record at home remained intact.
The win moves Aberdeen three points clear of Celtic at the top and 12 points ahead of Rangers in third, with both Glasgow sides in action on Sunday afternoon.
Aberdeen made two changes to the team beaten 6-0 by Celtic in the Premier Sports Cup semi-finals. Sivert Heltne Nilsen and Jamie McGrath were replaced by Palaversa and Leighton Clarkson.
Dundee also made two changes following their victory over Kilmarnock. Jordan McGhee and Josh Mulligan entered the starting lineup in place of Ethan Ingram and Antonio Portales.
The home team started promisingly. Jack MacKenzie’s shot from distance rose over the goal before Oluwaseun Adewumi went close at the other end after being chased down by Lyall Cameron’s ball.
Aberdeen responded and Duk’s attempt from a tight angle was saved by Jon McCracken, before another piercing shot from the same player was similarly parried away.
Dundee continued to be a threat on the counter-attack and, from another Cameron pass, Murray could only fire into the arms of the goalkeeper.
The visitors then squandered a brilliant opportunity to take the lead just before half-time. Gavin Molloy attempted to let the ball out for a goal kick but ended up knocking Murray down in the process. The striker took the penalty himself but Dimitar Mitov dived to his left to stop it.
Aberdeen had one last chance in the dying seconds of a frantic first half but again McCracken was equal to Keskinen’s curling shot.
The home team opened the scoring seven minutes into the second half. Clarkson’s corner was only partially cleared and Palaversa took advantage to fire a powerful shot past McCracken.
Duk then hit the post with a header before Aberdeen got their second goal in the 57th minute. Nicky Devlin’s throw-in was deflected by Sokler and, after Clark Robertson failed in an attempted clearance, Keskinen fired a low shot to the far corner.
Dundee got a chance when Murray redeemed himself for his earlier missed penalty by heading Scott Tiffoney’s pass past Mitov with 20 minutes remaining.
Hopes of a comeback, however, were dashed within 60 seconds. Nisbet, having just entered the field, took a quick free kick and Besuijen, another replacement, quickly capitalized on it to score.
Nisbet claimed his team’s fourth goal in stoppage time, his shot deflecting off Ryan Astley on its way into McCracken’s goal.
Upcoming matches in the Scottish Premiership.
