Hibs fightback falls short

Hibernians 4
Dias 22, 34; Farrugia 40, 44
Fk Sarajevo 4
Hadzic 12, 27; Suljic 23, Sundevaric 90
(Sarajevo win 9-6 on aggregate)

Hibernians: M. Muscat, E. Herrera, A. Pulis, R. Camilleri, S. Pisani (74 J.Bezzina), A. Cohen, B. Kristensen, M. Dias, Jackson Lima, J. Vandelannoite, J.P. Farrugia.

FK Sarajevo: A. Adilovic, I. Sesar, S. Husejinovic (68 R. Sundevaric), I. Tatomirovic, Z. Belosevic (46 Z. Karamatic), N. Zlatkovic, S. Torlak, D. Comor, E. Hadzic (81 N. Haskic), A. Suljic, B. Gujic.

Referee: Adam Nemeth (Hungary).
Yellow cards: Farrugia; Torlak; Kristensen.

Trailing 5-2 from the first leg, Hibs looked down and out when, 27 minutes into their home encounter with Bosnian outfit FK Sarajevo, they fell 3-1 behind and 8-3 on aggregate.

Surely, Hibs had no chance of reviving this tie, but what followed almost defied belief. Inspired by the magnificent Jackson Lima and with Marcelo Dias terrorising the edgy Sarajevo defenders, Hibs conjured up an amazing fightback.

Quick goals from Dias and the in-form Jean Paul Farrugia breathed life into Hibs and lifted the home fans who could hardly believe their eyes when the Malta U-21 international scored with a perfectly-flighted strike to put the Paolites 4-3 up.

Despite needing another three goals to go through, Hibs dared to dream after their three-goal blitz but they were unable to reproduce the first-half pyrotechnics in the second half despite holding the upperhand for long stretches.

They were also denied victory at the death but that didn’t matter as Hibs had clearly earned the admiration of their fans as well as the neutrals after their herculean effort in a breathtaking first half.

Sarajevo reached their aim of reaching the next round where they will meet Bulgarian side Levski Sofia but the Paolites can be proud of themselves as their performances over the two legs certainly augur well for their chances of challenging for the domestic honours, starting with the Super Cup.

Hibs’ starting line-up showed only one change from the first leg, Steve Pisani filling the void left by the suspended Rodolfo Soares. The inclusion of a winger for a defender necessitated some positional changes as Adrian Pulis moving inside to partner Jason Vandelannoite at centre-half.

FK Sarajevo were buoyed by the return of Zoran Belosevic, an attacking left-back who is highly valued in Bosnia and Herzegovina.

Dragan Jovic’s initial strategy was to direct quick vertical passes towards Emir Hadzic as the FK Sarajevo striker acted as a target man, often dropping back to receive the ball and initiate attacks.

The early exchanges were devoid of scoring chances but on 10 minutes, Hadzic provided an early warning of his attacking nous as he pulled clear of Pulis before unleashing a rising shot that cannoned off the crossbar.

Mario Muscat, the Hibs goalkeeper, then saved a low effort from Asmir Suljic but the Paolites failed to heed the alarm signals.

With the home defence in a state of disarray, Suljic received a pass inside the box before releasing the unmarked Hadzic who stroked the ball past Muscat.

Hibs should have equalised on 21 minutes when Cohen guided a through-ball to Farrugia who was clean through but the Hibs striker’s grounder was repelled by Adi Adilovic, the Sarajevo keeper.

The Paolites levelled midway into the first half. Cohen stormed clear on the right before hitting a perfect cross that was headed home by Dias.

A raucous roar resonated around the Hibs Stadium but the delight of the home fans was shortlived. Hibs again backed off as FK Sarajevo pushed forward through Said Husejinovic who ran past a posse of opponents before releasing Suljic who beat Muscat with an angled shot.

Four minutes later, FK Sarajevo went 3-1 up, Hadzic rising high to head Ivan Sesar’s corner past Muscat.

Hibs looked shell-shocked but Lima galvanised his team-mates with his intelligent running and distribution. The Brazilian had a dangerous long-range effort pushed away for a corner by Adilovic.

Lima was in the thick of things when Hibs pulled one back as his excellent pass set up Dias who drilled a low shot past Adilovic. This came four minutes past the half-hour.

The barrage of goals continued as, six minutes later, Hibs made it 3-3. Lima was involved, once more, with a pass to Vandelannoite who made a dashing run on the right before whipping in a cross towards the far post where Farrugia rose high to head into the far corner.

The force was with Hibs now, Edward Herrera going close with a rising volley that flew just wide.

On the stroke of half-time, Hibs took the lead for the first time in the game. Dias broke on the counter, racing clear on the right before switching the ball to Farrugia who rifled the ball past the diving Adilovic.

Early in the second half, Bjorn Kristensen flicked wide from Lima’s corner as Hibs sought to continue where the left off at the end of the opening period.

Making light of the scorching heat, Hibs continued to hold the initiative with the likes of Cohen, Farrugia and Dias causing the Sarajevo defenders endless problems with their brisk running.

Tiredness caught up with both teams as the game entered its final stages. Seven minutes from time, Muscat punched away Sesar’s cross from a free-kick.

At the other end, substitute Johann Bezzina hit a low drive but Adilovic saved in two attempts.

Vandelannoite then failed to apply the killer touch after Lima’s low cross had caused a melee inside the Sarajevo box.

In a rare breakaway, Sarajevo equalised in the final minute of normal time. Suljic forced his way through on the left before laying the ball for substitute Radan Sunderavic whose angled shot gave Muscat no chance.