Second-half goals sink ten-man Hibs

NK Sarajevo 5

Hibernians 2

NK Sarajevo are in charge of their Europa League tie against Hibernians as they recovered from a difficult first half to hit three second-half goals to see off the battling challenge of the Paolites at the Asim Ferhatovic Hase Stadium yesterday.

Michael Woods’ team put up a stirring performance in the first half which saw the two teams sharing four goals.

However, Rodolfo Soares’s dismissal early in the second half turned the match in the hosts favour as they netted three times after the break to take a commanding lead ahead of next week’s second leg at Corradino.

Hibs were behind after only two minutes when Asmir Suljic hit the ball past Hibs goalkeeper Mario Muscat.

The visitors hit back and drew level on 20 minutes through a Jean Paul Farrugia strike.

Buoyed by the equaliser, the Paolites kept pushing forward and took the lead on 33 minutes when Soares diverted the ball into the net following a Jackson Lima corner kick.

Hibs’ hopes of going into the interval ahead where quashed by Sarajevo skipper Sedin Torlak who made it 2-2 in stoppage time.

On 52 minutes Soares floored Said Husejinovic in the area with the referee pointing to the spot.

Soares was dismissed and from the resultant penalty, Karamatic beat Muscat.

Despite being a man down Hibs remained dangerous and Andrew Cohen and Lima were both denied by keeper Adi Adilovic.

On 72 minutes Karamatic almost made it 4-2 but his effort hit the woodwork. Sarajevo increased their lead on 79 minutes when Emir Haskic scored from a Karamatic delivery.

The hosts added a fifth goal in stoppage time through Ivan Tatomirovic .

NK SARAJEVO: A. Adilovic, S. Torlak, I. Tatomirovic, B. Gujic, D. Comor, I. Sesar, S. Husejinovic, N. Zlatkovic, Z. Karamatic (46 M. Tadejevic) N. Haskic, A. Suljic.

HIBS: M. Muscat, A. Pulis, J. Vandelannoite, R. Camilleri, R. Soares, B. Kristensen, J. Lima, E. Herrera, M. Dias (77 S. Pisani), A. Cohen (85 T. Caruana), J.P. Farrugia.

Referee: Goran Spirkoski (Macedonia).