ABERDEEN - A controversial penalty decision prevented Aberdeen repeating their famous victory over Bayern Munich after the German giants were twice stunned by teenagers in a vibrant UEFA Cup tie at Pittodrie.
England Under-19 team-mates Josh Walker and Sone Aluko both gave Aberdeen the lead in the first half with Miroslav Klose replying during sustained pressure in between.
But Hamit Altintop levelled after Spanish referee Eduardo Iturralde Gonzalez had penalised Alan Maybury for handball despite previously ignoring two similar Aberdeen appeals.
The decision deprived Aberdeen of the chance to hold on for another win over Bayern, who lost 3-2 at Pittodrie during the home side's triumphant European Cup Winners' Cup campaign in 1983.
No-one had expected the Dons to pull off a repeat, especially with five men injured, but they came so close thanks to a positive first-half show in the first leg.
With Jackie McNamara and Derek Young among the absentees, Jimmy Calderwood brought in Andrew Considine, Lee Mair and Aluko, with Dave Bus dropping out.
Their first penalty claim came within 30 seconds when Andreas Ottl handled as he tried to head clear Aluko's cross.
Zander Diamond cleared Altintop's weak effort off the line but the Dons continued positively, with Bayern troubled by direct runs from Aluko and Darren Mackie, who partnered Lee Miller up front.
Jamie Langfield palmed away Christian Lell's powerful 30-yard strike and Mair atoned for a shaky start with a timely sliding tackle to rob Ze Roberto after the Brazilian had cut through the middle.
Aberdeen's promising start was rewarded when they stunned the Bundesliga leaders with a 24th-minute opener crafted by the two on-loan teenagers.
Aluko held up a high ball before laying it off to Walker, and the 18-year-old Middlesbrough reserve curled a superb shot into the corner from more than 20 yards.
Klose shot over from Altintop's low cross and Bayern escaped another penalty appeal when Marcell Jansen appeared to handle under pressure from Mackie.
But Klose made amends with a simple equaliser in the 29th minute as he found the top corner following Luca Toni's head-on.
Some slack defending handed the prolific German another opportunity but Langfield blocked his stab at goal from 12 yards.
The favourites had clearly been stung by Aberdeen's audacity and Ze Roberto waltzed into the box before slicing wide before Klose volleyed just over after a clever run.
Just as Bayern appeared to have taken a grip of proceedings, the Dons regained the lead in the 41st minute.
Miller's deft flick released Aluko and he drilled the ball underneath Michael Rensing, who had stepped in after an ill Oliver Kahn had flown home without leaving the plane. Aluko ran beyond Bayern's defence again but he curled a 25-yard shot wide.
His Birmingham boss Alex McLeish was among the 1983 heroes paraded at half-time, but the current generation's hopes of creating their own piece of history were soon dashed.
Ze Roberto's cross struck the hand of Maybury a few yards away, and Gonzalez's consistency came into question when he pointed to the spot.
Langfield saved Altintop's penalty but the Turkey midfielder was first to the rebound to net a 55th-minute leveller.
The second half was proving tighter but Toni failed to divert Altintop's scuffed shot inside the far post.
Steve Lovell replaced Mackie midway through the second half as Aberdeen tried to regain their attacking edge. The Dons improved their possession but some slack passing in their own half allowed Bayern sub Lukas Podolski a shot, which Langfield did well to hold.
Toni was almost presented with a late chance to win it when Diamond stepped on the ball as he intercepted Altintop's cross but Langfield dived at the Italian's feet to smother.
The Germans will remain clear favourites to proceed to the last 16 next week but the 20,047 crowd hailed Aberdeen at the end of another memorable European night in the Granite City.
