Bogdan the hero as Hibs edge through in Greece

ASTERAS TRIPOLIS 1 HIBS 1 (AGG 3-4)

Goalkeeper Adam Bogdan proved the hero as Hibernian reached the third qualifying round after a nailbiting 1-1 draw against Asteras Tripolis in Greece.

Bogdan produced a string of saves, one of them outstanding, as Hibs held on against 10 men to proceed 4-3 on aggregate.

John McGinn put the visitors ahead in the 43rd minute and Neil Lennon’s side looked set to see out the game after Michalis Manias was sent off three minutes into the second half.

But the Greek side were more dangerous with 10 men than 11 and Kosmas Tsilianidis levelled in the 56th minute.

The home side created a number of good chances to get the goal they needed for an away-goals success but Bogdan stood firm to set up a clash against Norwegian side Molde.

It was a night of redemption for the on-loan Liverpool player after some poor goalkeeping at Easter Road contributed to an early 2-0 lead for the Greek side, who competed in the group stages in two of the past four seasons.

Hibs set about holding on to the lead gained by a thrilling first-leg comeback and started with three central defenders.

They looked comfortable after wing-back David Gray made some important early interventions inside their box.

But the Greek side were the architects of their own downfall.

Masked skipper Matias Iglesias was short with a pass and then slipped to leave Hibs with a two-onone.

Florian Kamberi supplied McGinn, who drilled an angled drive into the far corner of the net.

Tsilianidis turned Efe Ambrose and fired past Bogdan from 18 yards, but it was not enough for the Greeks.