GREEK GODS
Lennon brings more thunder as his heroes storm into next round after digging deep to grind out huge result
BRINGING back the thunder is now trademark Neil Lennon.
And on an evening when lightning lit up the sky in Greece, the Northern Irishman guided Hibs to a historic triumph over Asteras Tripolis as he took the club past two rounds in Europe for the first time in 45 years.
The Europa League journey now continues in Norway with a thirdround qualifier against Molde but this was about guts and character.
John McGinn’s first-half goal was enough to edge it despite 10-man Asteras launching a second-half fightback that had Hibs hanging on by their fingernails.
The 1500-strong Hibees support were the ones making a raucous racket but a few bright sparks let off a smoke bomb and held flares in idiotic scenes that may come back to bite the club once UEFA receive their delegate’s report.
Worryingly, it was Asteras who started with the highest voltage at the Theodoros Kolokotronis Stadium as several interchanges required last-gasp interceptions by David Gray and Darren McGregor.
The Greeks were always going to put Florian Kamberi’s heavily bandaged knee to the test and an early crunching challenge by Luis Valiente left him in a crumpled heap before he got back to his feet.
Just as they had in Edinburgh seven days earlier, there was a class on the ball and technical ability with each Asteras attack.
But it was Hibs who carved out the first clear chance as Martin Boyle arrived inside the box to meet a brilliant cross from Vykintas Slivka only to hesitate and allow Valiente to block.
It gave Hibs a surge of encouragement as the Greeks started to lose their cool, with Nikos Kaltsas booked for dissent.
Lennon’s side then started to live on their nerves. Paul Hanlon competed a crucial interception as Kalstas waited to nod home at the back post and Kosmas Tsilianidis crashed a header against the bar.
But Hibs took the lead minutes before the break. Kamberi led a break with McGinn on his shoulder and picked his moment to play in the midfielder who hit a low shot into the far corner.
Sadly, one Hibs fan marked the moment by throwing on a flare but it couldn’t spoil a superb 45 minutes – an exercise in containment while showing enterprise of their own.
Asteras appeared to implode just after the restart. Michael Manias raced clear but his strike was parried away by Adam Bogdan and he inexplicably lunged into Hanlon as they chased the rebound.
Referee Benoit Millot delivered a second booking to Manias and the Greeks were down to 10 men.
But Asteras had only tasted defeat twice in 12 home games in Europe and threw themselves a lifeline as Tsilianidis spun away from McGregor to slam a low shot past Bogdan in 56 minutes.
It was exactly what Lennon would have been dreading with the Greeks just one goal away from eliminating side.
An Ioannis Kotsiras shot was pushed over the top by Bogdan then Tasos Douvikas’ close-range headed effort was somehow scrambled clear by Efe Ambrose.
Hibs were now under the cosh and Matias Iglesias managed to miss an absolute sitter in the 76th minute by steering a header wide from a few yards out. It was a scare of terrifying proportions but it was to get worse.
Douvikas raced clear from deep and Hungarian keeper Bogdan dived at the striker’s feet to block as the Greeks bawled for a penalty.
Millot waved play on as fortunes again favoured the brave wearing the green and white shirts.
Kamberi managed to bring some brief respite by firing a shot on target but game management was now the main requirement.
Keeper Bogdan came to the rescue again for Hibs as he beat away an effort by Kotsiras when he broke free inside the box with seven minutes remaining.
It was excruciating to watch for the Easter Road faithful behind a goal that was well and truly under siege.
They prayed for full-time and it arrived without the usual late hard luck story to accompany it.