Aberdeen boss Barry Robson insisted he was proud of his players after they narrowly and frustratingly fell just short in Germany in their opening Europa Conference League group stage encounter.

The Dons were written off as no-hopers ahead of their trip to Frankfurt after a terrible start to the season - their worst for 24 years. Yet, they will return to Scotland frustrated and anoyed they weren't able to collect at least a point at the Waldstadion.

It looked like it could be a long night for the Scots when Jack MacKenzie conceded an early penalty, but American midfielder Dante Polvara scored his first ever goal for Aberdeen as they grabbed a deserved equaliser.

Frustratingly, they gave away a second half winner after a corner, but sub Ester Sokler missed a glorious chance to snatch a leveller in injury time.

And Robson believes they can use this display as a platform to kick on. He said: "This gives the players confidence they belong at this level. It’s good, we have shown already in three European games we can compete against good teams who are ranked higher than us.

"We have a history at Aberdeen in Europe and you feel that. I certainly do and the players do as well. We are respectful of wanting that tradition to be there and carry it on.

"Tonight was a different kind of performance, it was a more disciplined performance and that’s what you need to do.

"It’s really hard to press really high against a team of that quality, but we got our distances right tonight. So I think we will take a lot of positives. We have put on another decent performance here against a top team.

"In Europe you need to be tactically good, be disciplined and be switched on because it’s top players who can unlock you quickly. We were sharp on that tonight.

"I’m proud, when you wear that Aberdeen jersey you have to show that mentality, desire, fight and tactical knowhow. And I thought they did that all in abundance.

"Eintracht are a terrific team, they won the Europa League not that long ago and have some top players. And I thought in the last ten minutes we might have nicked a draw."

The hosts were really gifted a lead in the 11th minute. MacKenzie got caught wrong side from captain Sebastian Rode's pass inside of him and the young defender tangled legs with Junior Dina Ebimbe and brought him down.

Egyptian striker Omar Marmoush sent Kell Roos the wrong way from the penalty spot.

But Aberdeen drew level in the 22nd minute when Bojan Miovski was allowed time and space to carry the ball forward from his own half after taking advantage of Ellyes Skhiri giving away possession and sent the overlapping Nicky Devlin away on the right. The former Livingston full back picked out Polvara and the American midfielder took a touch and then dug the ball past Kevin Trapp into the net.

That sparked drama in the stands when the Aberdeen fans - who were warned on the stadium loudspeaker not to use pyrotechnics - responded by launching one of those flares directly into the home end, which prompted an irate reaction from the home fans.

Aberdeen issued a statement after the game which said: "The club is deeply disappointed by the actions of a small minority of supporters during this evening’s match which threatens to tarnish the good reputation of Aberdeen FC and the vast majority of Dons supporters.

"The club will fully co-operate with UEFA and the relevant authorities during the course of any investigations.”

Eintracht boss Dino Toppmoller had seen enough and made two subs at half time including hooking 2014 World Cup winner Mario Gotze.

However, the harder they tried to break down the Dons the more frustrated the hosts seemed to get and their irritation was summed up by Dina Ebimbe leathering the ball high into the stands when he failed to catch a pass.

The Germans were misplacing passes all over the pitch and Aberdeen sensed a real opportunity, but they conceded a desperately cheap goal to give away at any level, especially Europe in the 61st minute.

After Stefan Gartenmann had cleared a header from sub Fares Chaibi off the line, the same player floated in a corner and Koch was unmarked to glance a header past Roos into the net.

Aberdeen had put so much effort in containing Eintracht, it was always going to be a big ask for them to get back into the game for a second time and Robson made a triple substitution with just under 20 minutes which even included taking skipper Graeme Shinnie off.

They won their first corner of the match in the 76th minute and Richard Jensen headed over and they pushed forward in search of an equaliser in vain, with sub Solker volleying wide in injury time from ten yards out.