Paris, Aug 27, 2020 (AFP) - Ryan Hedges scored three times as Aberdeen hammered the Faroe Islands' Runavik 6-0 on Thursday to reach the second qualifying round of the Europa League after a tumultuous start to the season.
Earlier this month, the Dons fined eight players, including another goal-scorer at Pittodrie Jonny Hayes, who broke coronavirus protocols leading to three Scottish Premiership matches being postponed.
Two players tested positive, and another six were forced to self-isolate for 14 days after attending a restaurant and a bar together.
Wales midfielder Hedges, 25, claimed his first of proceedings after 50 minutes following first-half efforts from Lewis Ferguson and Curtis Main.
Hedges, who has three caps, completed his hat-trick either side of Hayes' 63rd-minute goal.
Elsewhere in the ties which were played over one leg due to the Covid-19 outbreak, Partizan Belgrade edged Latvia's RFS 1-0 and Hammarby, part-owned by Zlatan Ibrahimovic, beat Puskas Academy from Hungary 3-0.
The next round takes place on September 17 with the likes of Tottenham Hotspur, AC Milan, and Galatasary entering the competition.