Hibs European adventure ends in heartbreaking fashion
Legia Warsaw 3 - 3 Hibernian (Legia Warsaw won 5-4 on aggregate)
Hibernian's Conference League dream was crushed in heartbreaking fashion as Legia Warsaw denied the Scottish side one of their great European results in an incredible six-goal play-off thriller.
Author | Andy C
Stadium | Stadion Miejski Legii Warszawa
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| A passionate home support watches on |
After the Edinburgh side, trailing 2-1 from the first leg, silenced a hostile home crowd in the Polish capital with a remarkable three-goal fightback to lead 3-1 on the night, Juergen Elitim's 93rd-minute aggregate leveller took a breathtaking encounter to extra time.
The Leith side tired and suffered complete heartache when Mileta Rajovic smashed past goalkeeper Jordan Smith eight minutes after the restart.
A closer look at what happened
Needing to recover a first-leg defeat against a club who reached the quarter-finals of this competition last season, Gray challenged Hibs to create a "special night" in Warsaw.
Gray’s side came close to producing one of the most memorable European nights in the club’s 150-year history, fighting back from two goals down after Vahan Bichakhchyan’s drilled strike put Legia 3-1 ahead on aggregate.
Rocky Bushiri rose to meet Nicky Cadden’s corner and set the tone for a rousing second half, before the defender turned provider for Martin Boyle, who rifled home an equaliser.
Within moments, substitute Miguel Chaiwa silenced the Polish crowd with a superb solo effort that turned the tie on its head.
Fellow substitute Junior Hoilett was harshly dismissed during a second half brimming with drama, only for the referee to be sent to the monitor and swiftly reverse his decision.
In a pivotal moment, Hibs almost stretched their lead when Martin Boyle’s audacious 40-yard volley crashed against the crossbar.
Legia were reduced to ten men in the 115th minute after Jan Ziolkowski collected a second yellow card, but Gray’s side could not force the tie to penalties.
Hibs players and manager can hold their heads eye
This has been a damaging week for Scotland's UEFA coefficient ranking, but Hibs should in no way be held responsible for any of that.
Legia were playing in the last eight of the Conference League four months ago. They were put out by eventual winners Chelsea.
They lost 4-2 on aggregate to the Premier League side but won the second leg 2-1 at Stamford Bridge. That should give you an idea of the incredible effort Gray's men had to put into this game, especially after going two goals down on aggregate.
Had Martin Boyle’s spectacular volley dipped a few inches lower, or had Kieron Bowie or Josh Mulligan found a way past the goalkeeper in normal time, Hibs might have been out of reach before Legia struck their late equaliser.
Bowie was denied again in the dying moments of extra time when his header was clawed off the line, while record signing Thibault Klidje saw a lofted effort drift agonisingly wide.
The Leith side can count themselves unlucky with their European draws, but they have still gone to Midtjylland, Partizan Belgrade and Legia and avoided a defeat in one leg.
There will be scant comfort for Gray and his players in the bruising aftermath of this defeat, but if they can channel their frustration and regroup swiftly, few would bet against them being a formidable force in the Scottish Premiership this season.
