Hibs learn Uefa Conference League play-off fate after nervy extra-time win over Serbian giants Partizan
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HIBS have discovered their Uefa Conference League play-off fate - after seeing off Partizan at Easter Road tonight.
David Gray's men are one tie away from booking their place in the league phase of the competition following a stunning 3-2 aggregate win over the Serbian giants.
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Hibernian manager David Gray reacts during the game at Easter Road
Credit: PA
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Hibs stars celebrate Kieron Bowie's wondergoal
Credit: PA
Hibs were the underdogs going into the third round qualifier tie, but were quickly made the favourites to progress following their heroic display in Belgrade last week.
The Hibees stunned the Serbian outfit with one of their biggest European results in recent years as Martin Boyle netted a brace to dump 10-men Partizan on their home turf.
The visitors were given the upper hand on the night when star man Vukasin Durdevic was shown red in the first half - and Gray's side capitalised on the major flashpoint.
All eyes were then on a sell-out Easter Road tonight to see if Gray's men could get the job done and pull off another historic result.
And they managed to see it over the line in Leith in extra-time - despite crashing two goals behind in the first half after a nightmare display from Jordan Smith.
But up stepped Kieron Bowie with what will not only go down as the biggest goal of his career, but the best as well, as he rifled home a half volley from almost 40 yards out!
Partizan then went down to 10 men for the second game in a row as Nikola Simic was shown red this time - moments after Bowie's strike.
The Easter Road side thought they had saw the tie out in the closing stages and even had a goal chopped off - with Nicky Cadden hitting the back of the net, but Boyle was offside.
But with the final kick of the ball, Andrej Kostic scored for Partizan to send the tie to extra time.
But although Cadden was denied his goal late on in the second half, it was his brother Chris who saved the day with a rebound strike on the 100-minute mark.
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Gray's men knew they would face one of two teams in the play-off round if they progressed against Partizan.
They might have pulled off a massive result against the Serbian giants, but it unfortunately doesn't get much easier for the Hibees in the next round.
It was decided that the Leith club would face the loser of the Europa League tie between AEK Larnaca and Legia Warsaw in the final Conference League qualifier.
Before tonight's second leg kicked off in Poland, it looked like the tie had been perhaps settled already - with Larnaca holding a three-goal advantage following a 4-1 win in Cyprus last week.
And nothing changed come full-time in Warsaw as Larnaca managed to see it over the line despite falling two goals behind in the first half.
The game finished 2-1 in Legia's favour, but it finished 5-3 to Larnaca on aggregate.
So that means Hibs will take on Legia in the Conference League play-off.
The first leg will be played in Edinburgh on Thursday, August 21, with the return leg pencilled in for the following Thursday, August 28.
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