Hibs through to Conference League play-off after night of high drama at Easter Road

Edinburgh Reporter

13 hours ago

Hibs are through to the Conference League play offs after a night of high drama at Easter Road that included goalkeeping mistakes, a red card and a contender for goal of the season if not the decade.
Hibs went into the game with a two-goal lead thanks to Martin Boyle's double in Serbia last week, but pre-match David Gray insisted that it was only half time.
He made four changes to the starting XI that drew with Kilmarnock last Sunday, three expected and one enforced, midfielder Jamie McGrath who missed out due to injury.
Elie Youan, Junior Hoilett and Grant Hanley made way for Boyle, Jack Iredale and Kieron Bowie.
Hibs almost made the perfect start when Boyle beats his man down the right side and crossed to the unmarked Chris Cadden, but he hurried his effort which went straight at Partizan goalkeeper Marko Milosevic.
Then in the 16th minute Milan Vukotic silenced the noisy Easter Road crowd with a long range effort.
Hibs keeper Jordan Smith got his hand to the strike but was unable to stop it entering the net.
Rocky Bushiri almost equalised but headed Dylan Levitt's cross wide from close range.
Campbell looked to have been bundled over in the build up but no penalty was awarded despite the protests.
Then just before the break Jovan Milosevic doubled the visitor's advantage but Smith should have done better.
His tame shot squirmed underneath Smith's body and rolled over the line.
In added time Partizan claimed for a penalty when Mario Jurcevic's cross appeared to strike Warren O'Hora's arm but after a VAR check it was not given and Nikola Simic was booked for his protestations.
But with the supporters subdued after losing their advantage Bowie scored a goal that will be talked about for a long time by the Hibs fans.
The Scotland striker held off a defender and hit a first time lob from all of 35 yards which arced over Milosevic and in off the post.
Easter Road erupted and moments later Partizan went down to 10 men for the second week running when Simic was shown a second yellow fora bad challenge on Bowie.
Alasana Manneh replaced Dylan Levitt as Gray tried to hold on to the aggregate lead and there were some groans when five added minutes were added.
Despite the numerical disadvantage the visitors piled on the pressure and Smith made amends for his earlier mistakes with a string of fine saves.
But with seconds remaining Andrej Kostić slammed the ball home from close range sparking mayhem from the Partizan bench.
Hoilett and Youan came on for the start of extra time and it was the Canadian midfielder that set up the winning goal.
His through ball found Josh Mulligan who burst into the Partizan box. His shot was saved but the ball fell to Chris Cadden and the full-back made no mistake from close range.
His brother Nicky almost wrapped things up after the restart but his header was saved and he kneed the rebound wide of the posts.
With the fans roaring them on Hibs managed the game out to a memorable victory and the players lapped up the adulation with a rendition of Sunshine on Leith.
After the final whistle Gray told BBC Scotland: 'Delighted for the players. A really unbelievable performance. I really underplayed the magnitude of the first leg to the players, knowing it was half-time in the tie.
'For large spells of the first half the shape was really good, we had the better chances and then there's obviously a couple of mistakes from [Jordan Smith].
'The character was certainly tested. Half-time came at a good time – I was able to calm them down and then it's all about character.
'It was horrendous for me to watch at times and ultimately it's a brilliant result over two legs. I'm delighted for Jordan Smith for his second-half performance. He made big saves at big times.
'All in all, delighted to get through.'
Hibs progress to a Conference Laegue play-off against Legia Warsaw, who lost 5-3 on aggregate to AEK Larnaca in Europa League qualifying tie.
Before then, Gray's side travel to Livingston on Sunday for their second-round Scottish League Cup tie.
Hibs: Smith, C Cadden, O'Hora, Bushiri, Iredale, Obita, Levitt, Mulligan, Campbell, Boyle, Bowie.
Substitutes: Sallinger, Johnson, Hanley, Youan, Alasana, Klidje, N Cadden, Hoilett, Megwa, MacIntyre, Molotnikov.
Partizan Belgrade: M Milosevic, Roganovic, Milic, Simic, Jurcevic, Dragojevic, Ugresic, Vukotic, Kostic, Trifunovic, J Milosevic.
Substitutes: Krunic, Stojkovic, Kostic, Natcho, Kalulu, Seck, Karabelyov, Zahid, Petrovic, Jovanovic, Jankovic, Alilovic.
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