Smith has night to remember

The 27-year-old turned a tight contest into one of Aberdeen's greatest European nights as a quickfire brace in the first 10 minutes of the second half at a packed Pittodrie set the Dons up for a remarkable 4-0 win.

"It's great, it was a massive game and such a big stage," he said. "To be part of it and to win in the manner we won the game was fantastic. I have played in a few big European nights at Celtic, but I think the fans were incredible."

The Danes had edged possession and chances in the first half without causing Aberdeen goalkeeper Jamie Langfield too many problems. Aberdeen had created the best chance of the half when a long ball from Zander Diamond caught out the visiting defence in the opening stages, only for Lee Miller to shoot well wide.

And the Dons took a grip of the game less than two minutes into the second half when Smith fired into the top corner from 25 yards after Miller had won another high ball. Miller set up Smith's second and an own goal from Mikael Antonsson, before sub Richard Foster rounded off a result that will raise eyebrows around Europe.

And Smith, part of the Celtic team that lost to Porto in the 2003 final, revelled in the atmosphere created by Aberdeen's supporters on arguably their greatest European night since 1983 when the club won the European Cup Winners' Cup and Super Cup.

"It makes such a difference when you have got a full house - they didn't stop shouting, singing and going crazy for 90 minutes," Smith said.

"It makes it so much easier when you have got 20,000 people shouting for you. We knew we would have to be at our very best to win and thankfully we managed to do that. We knew the quality of FC Copenhagen, we know they are a very good side with big players.

"It's maybe the approach of Scottish football, we play from the heart. But I think we also played with our heads, with some good passes."