Hibs produce amazing fightback but Sarajevo progress

HIBS-4, FK SARAJEVO-4

Hibs bowed out of the Europa League with their heads held high after a 4-4 draw with Bosnian outfit FK Sarajevo in the second leg of their first qualifying round tie this evening.

After losing the first leg 5-2, Hibs had a mountain to climb if they were to reach the next round but they certainly gave it their best shot, producing an astonishing comeback after being 3-1 down after 27 minutes.

The game looked as good as over when FK Sarajevo went 3-1 up inside the opening 27 minutes but Hibs staged an amazing comeback, scoring three goals to finish the first half 4-3 ahead.

After Emir Hadzic rattled the crossbar with a rising effort, the Sarajevo striker opened the scoring on 12 minutes, tapping the ball home after receiving from Asmir Suljic.

Hibs threatened an equaliser but Jason Vandelannoite miscued his header from Jackson Lima’s coirner. Jean Paul Farrugia, sent clear by Andrew Cohen, was then denied by Sarajevo goalkeeper Adi Adilovic but Hibs equalised on 22 minutes.

Cohen burst clear on the right before supplying a perfect cross that was headed home by Marcelo Dias.

Hibs’ delight didn’t last long as, a minute later, Sarajevo restored their lead, Suljic beating Muscat with a low shot after receiving a through-ball from Said Husejinovic who had powered his way past a host of Hibs players.

Four minutes later, FK Sarajevo increased their lead, Hadzic making the most of Hibs’ slack defending in a corner to head Ivan Sesar’s cross past Muscat.

Three-one down on the day and 7-3 on aggregate, Hibs looked out of contention but they battled on.

Jackson Lima had a long-range effort saved by the Sarajevo goalkeeper but 10 minutes from time, the Brazilian played an excellent pass to Dias who entered the box and fired a diagonal shot past Adilovic.

Six minutes later, Hibs equalised thanks to Farrugia who met Vandelannoite’s cross with a dipping far-post header.

The home team ended the first half with a bang as, in the dying stages, they scored their fourth. In a fast counter-attack, Dias ran clear on the left before serving the sprinting Farrugia who spread his body before hitting a cracking shot past Adilovic.

Early in the second half, Bjorn Kristensen poked the ball wide from Lima’s corner as Hibs looked to maintain their momentum.

Pisani then flicked wide from the edge of the box after Lima’s shot had been partially blocked.

Despite seeing more of the ball, Hibs could not repeat their first-half fireworks.

Johann Bezzina, who had just replaced Pisani, fashioned a low drive from outside the box but Adilovic saved in two attempts.

Vandelannoite then failed to make proper contact with the ball after Lima’s low cross had caused a scramble inside the Sarajevo box.

In a rare counter-attack, Sarajevo equalised in the final minute of normal time. Suljic made headway on the left before serving substitute Radan Sunderavic who hit an angled drive past Muscat.