Bogdan thwarts Greek revival to send Hibs through in Europe

Tsilianidis 56 The Greek gods looked down favourably on Hibs as Neil Lennon’s side survived a spirited second-half fightback by ten-man Asteras Tripolis to reach the Europa League third qualifying round.

John Mcginn opened the scoring for the visitors before the break to extend their aggregate lead to 4-2 before Tripolis responded through Kosmas Tsilianidis even though the home side had Michael Manias sent off for two bookings moments earlier.

Despite Hibs’ numerical superiority, it was Savvas Pantelidis’ side who finished the second leg in the ascendancy, squandering several notable chances up against the excellent Adam Bogdan.

French referee Benoit Millot’s final whistle was warmly greeted by the Hibs players and 1,500 travelling supporters as the Edinburgh club won successive European ties for the first time in 45 years to set up a clash with Norwegian side Molde.

Uefa, however, are likely to take a dim view of the flares, including one thrown on to thepitchfollowingmcginn’s strike, and smoke bombs set off by the Hibs fans.

Swiss striker Flo Kamberi overcame a knee concern to start, lining up alongside Martin Boyle as Lennon made one change from the team that produced a stirring comeback to win the first leg 3-2, David Gray replacing Steven Whittaker.

0 John Mcginn: Put Hibs ahead.

Despite torrential rain battering the Peloponnese capital for much of the day, the pitch was in perfect condition on a balmy night under the floodlights.

Watching on from the stand, Hibs manager Lennon, who was serving a final Uefa ban, would not have been unduly troubled by his team’s measured start.

After David Gray made a couple of timely interceptions inside his own box, the Leith side fashioned the first meaningful opening in the 14th minute.

Vykintas Slovak’s deft pass found the unmarked Boyle only six yards out but a poor first touch allowed Jose Luis Valiente to recover and make the block on the shot.

Hibs kept up the pressure from the corner and Boyle then had a low drive from the edge of the box saved by Giorgos Athanasiadis at the goalkeeper’s near post.

The Easter Road side registered another shot on target in the 19th minute, albeit Stevie Mallan’s ambitious freekick from 30 yards was easily held by Athanasiadis.

In a dramatic ending to the half, Hibs drew first blood after riding their luck at the other end. Defender Paul Hanlon prevented what would have been an easy tap-in for Nikos Kaltsas at the back post with a crucial headed clearance in the 40th minute before Kosmas Tsilianidis glanced a header off the bar from Giorgos Kiriakopoulos’ corner.

The visitors then stormed ahead two minutes before the interval when Kamberi dispossessed the dithering Walter Iglesias before setting Mcginn free, and the Celtic target forced a shot across the goalkeeper into the net to spark joyous scenes behind the goal.

Hibs’ prospects of progressing improved markedly three minutes after the restart when Manias, only moments after having a shot blocked by goalkeeper Bogdan, collected a second booking for a late challenge on Hanlon.

However, the hosts breathed fresh life into the tie by levelling on the night in the 56th minute. Tsilianidis turned Darren Mcgregor outside the area and struck a low left-footed drive home from 18 yards.

Hibs were rattled and Bogdan had to palm a rising drive by Ioannis Kotsiras over the bar before getting down to substitute Taso Douvikas’ header.

Iglesias then headed wide from close range before frantic appeals for a penalty were waved away after Douvikas went down under a challenge by Bogdan.

The Hibs keeper was his team’s saviour again in the 83rd minute with another stop to deny Kotsiras.

But Hibs were able to see the game out to cap another memorable European night.