Dons blown away in Munich

MUNICH, February 21 (UEFA Cup) - Bayern Munich showed their true colours to thrash Aberdeen and reach the last 16 of the UEFA Cup on Thursday night.

After a 2-2 draw at Pittodrie a week ago, the German giants were keen to finish the tie off as soon as possible, and Ottmar Hitzfeld’s side were straight onto the attack.

Lukas Podolski hit the woodwork early on before Lucio put them ahead in the 12th minute and fellow centre-back Daniel van Buyten added a second 10 minutes before the interval.

Two goals from Podolski in the space of five second-half minutes killed the game off before Steve Lovell netted a consolation and Mark van Bommel added a fifth to complete the scoring.

Aberdeen coach Jimmy Calderwood made four changes to the side which lost 3-1 to Hibernian at the weekend.

Andrew Considine, Richard Foster, Darren Mackie and Josh Walker all started, with David Bus, Lee Mair, Christopher Maguire and Jeffrey De Visscher all dropping to the bench.

Bayern rested three of their regular first team, with Phillip Lahm, Bastian Schweinsteiger and Miroslav Klose all sitting on the bench.

Hitzfeld gave a start to 18-year-old Toni Kroos, and that did not turn out to be such a bad idea either.

The winger was a constant threat on the left wing and he tempted Alan Maybury into a foul just outside the area in the 12th minute as he was en route to goal.

Maybury may have been fortunate not to see red for the professional foul, but the true punishment was to follow.

Bayern’s Brazilian defender Lucio drilled the resultant free-kick through a seven-man wall and into the roof of the net before Langfield could even react.

It was a deserved lead for the home side, who had hit the crossbar after less than 90 seconds following a slick move which culminated in a powerful effort from Podolski from the edge of the penalty area.

A sea of black shirts continued to flow towards Langfield’s goal and Hamit Altintop went close to doubling Bayern’s lead, but he and Luca Toni both scuppered chances when sent through with only Jamie Langfield to beat.

The tide began to turn in the 22nd minute with the visitors growing in confidence.

Their first chance fell to Barry Nicholson, who was threaded through neatly and barged into Marcell Jansen, who was blocking his route to the ball.

Then, an even better through ball from Maybury sent Mackie clear, but he pulled his shot just wide of the post with only Oliver Kahn to beat.

It proved to be nothing more than a brief interlude in Bayern’s domination, and it was not long before the home side’s other central defender Van Buyten nodded in the second.

Again, it stemmed from a foul just outside the penalty area by Sone Aluko on Jansen, and dangerman Kroos lifted the free-kick into the danger area for the giant Belgian to head past Langfield from close range.

Bayern were almost celebrating a third goal just before the referee brought an end to the first half. Lucio hit the woodwork again after Andreas Ottl’s shot was pushed out to him at the far post by Langfield.

Aberdeen tried to make a game of it early in the second half, with Aluko looking lively after switching back onto the left wing after a spell on the right.

Twice he penetrated the Bayern defence, and the second time his cross was put into the net by Mackie at the far post, albeit from a marginally offside position.

His frustration at seeing the assistant’s flag produced the visitors fifth yellow card of the game after referee Robert Malek from Poland had cautioned Maybury, Walker, Aluko and Nicholson in the first half.

Aberdeen’s resistance did not last long and normal business was resumed when Podolski scored the third.

Substitute Klose’s shot was only parried by Langfield and Podolski was on hand to strike the loose ball high into the net in the 72nd minute.

Five minutes later, the Germany striker, who is more certain of his place in the national team than he is for his club, headed Bayern’s fourth after rising unchallenged at the far post to meet Schweinsteiger’s corner.

Lovell scored a consolation for the Dons four minutes after coming on, meeting Nicholson’s free-kick at the far post.

But Van Bommel restored Bayern’s four-goal advantage with a low, drilled shot into the bottom corner of the goal five minutes from time to send the UEFA Cup favourites closer to their aim of winning in Manchester in May.

Calderwood: Scoreline flattering

Aberdeen manager Jimmy Calderwood felt the 5-1 defeat to Bayern Munich which ended his team’s UEFA Cup dreams flattered the German side.

He explained: ‘We tried to play football and, when we settled, we had a few chances.

‘I don’t think we deserved to lose 5-1, I really don’t.

‘It was a bit harsh and I felt sorry for us and the fans because we did not deserve that.’

Five thousand Aberdeen fans made the trip to Bayern’s Allianz Arena and they certainly played their part in an occasion which was only spoiled by the final result.

The travelling fans serenaded the whole stadium to the tune of the Proclaimers before kick-off and supported their team relentlessly.

They were applauded by the Bayern players at the end of the game, and Calderwood paid tribute to them, as well as the respect shown by the rest of the 66,000 crowd.

‘They were fantastic,’ added Calderwood. ‘But the Bayern fans were good too and it was a really wonderful occasion with two wonderful sets of fans.

‘I think they (Bayern fans) agreed that the referee was not very good, but that is not what it was down to - Bayern were just too good.’

Polish referee Robert Malek booked five Aberdeen players and frustrated both Calderwood and the travelling fans with his strictness.

‘I am sure he has had better days,’ claimed Calderwood, who was otherwise keen to concentrate on the positives from his side against one of the strongest clubs in Europe.

‘This was a very good lesson for my players against a very good Bayern,’ he added.

‘They are one of the favourites for the tournament.’

Calderwood was disappointed with the fact his side conceded three goals from set-pieces.

A direct strike from Lucio, and headers from van Buyten and Podolski all came from a dead-ball situation.

Calderwood explained: ‘I am disappointed with the goals we conceded, particularly the three from set-pieces. We have got to do a lot better than that.

‘I was also disappointed with the way we started the game, but credit to Bayern, who really squeezed us back.

‘It has been a wonderful adventure in Europe and for it to end in this stadium against Bayern is absolutely no disgrace.’