Of all of the sensational particular person objectives within the Scottish Premiership this weekend, none was higher than that scored by Aberdeen’s Marko Lazetic in Paisley.
Six minutes into stoppage time, with the sport towards 10-man St Mirren nonetheless goalless, the striker dashed on to an extended go and was ushered out in direction of the nook flag.
With nothing on, Lazetic was absolutely anticipated to carry up the ball and await help, however as an alternative he spun his man on the byeline and rapidly whipped a ferocious shot contained in the far submit.
It was an outrageous effort, teed up and executed from the tightest of angles in a flash of brilliance that’s precisely what’s wanted on awkward, hard-fought days akin to these.
Aberdeen had not received a league sport in Paisley since 2018. In these seven irritating years, they’ve typically dug deep, however too typically lacked the standard to beat troublesome opponents.
Not any extra. Signed on a free switch from Milan, 21-year-old Lazetic has the potential to play at the next stage, which is why he was the topic of of a £3.5million switch from Crimson Star Belgrade when he was barely 18.
Aberdeen striker Marko Lazetic celebrates scoring his stoppage-time winner towards St Mirren
Aberdeen supervisor Jimmy Thelin enjoys their first league victory in Paisley for seven years
Hibs striker Thibault Klidge scored a surprising opener of their 4-0 win towards Livingston
On-loan winger Jesper Karlsson, who price Bologna £9.5m simply two years in the past, is one other with worldwide pedigree. As is Adil Aouchiche, whose mortgage from Sunderland features a £1.5m choice to purchase.
All have the flexibility to conjure much-needed magic when margins slim, as they so typically do below Swedish supervisor Jimmy Thelin.
Final season, his Aberdeen workforce went from title contenders to serial losers, whereas additionally profitable the Scottish Cup, in a marketing campaign that demonstrated the superb line between success and failure.
This season, they triumphed in simply one in all their first 11 video games. Three weeks in the past, Thelin’s future was doubtful, so poor had outcomes been for the reason that begin of the calendar 12 months.
However an unlucky defeat at Fir Park, adopted by a heartening show at dwelling to Shakhtar Donetsk and a 4-0 win at dwelling to Dundee steered {that a} nook was being turned.
With a little bit assist from Lazetic in Paisley, they secured their first away win within the league since April and lifted themselves off the underside of the desk, one level forward of Livingston.
Nothing will be taken without any consideration with this enigmatic Aberdeen workforce, however instantly the temper has modified and so they discover themselves simply 4 factors behind third-placed Hibs, who go to Pittodrie on Sunday.
Hibs, too, have a game-changer in £1m-plus signing Thibault Klidge, whose aim within the 4-0 win towards Livingston was a stunner to rank alongside these by Rangers’ Thelo Aasgaard and Dundee United’s Craig Sibbald.
Lazetic, although, produced one of the best and most decisive of the lot, which is how Aberdeen would love it to be within the weeks forward. In a fiercely-competitive league, that little bit additional makes all of the distinction.
