Hibs in Europe: Scotland’s No. 9, Smith’s steely-eyed resolve – and lessons learned from Partizan drama
Hibs in Europe: Scotland’s No. 9, Smith’s steely-eyed resolve – and lessons learned from Partizan drama.
Hibs defeated 10-man Partizan to advance to the UEFA Conference League play-offs at Easter Road.
The game featured a world-class strike from Kieron Bowie, chaos like a group of five-year-olds, and an extra-time winner that elevated Chris Cadden into the running.
Despite losing 3-2 on the night, David Gray’s side won 4-3 on aggregate and will face Legia Warsaw for a spot in the league stages of UEFA’s third-tier club competition.
The first leg returns here next Thursday night. Judging by the European fare served up so far this season, the club should have fitted seat belts before allowing paying fans back in for another continental contest.
In a game with everything, including another red card for a Partizan side reduced to ten men in the first leg in Belgrade a week ago, Hibs squandered a 2-0 lead earned with distinction in Serbia, as the visitors scored two unanswered goals to level the tie before half-time.
Bowie’s incredible moment just before the hour mark appeared to propel David Gray’s side into the play-offs – until the visitors equalised with the final kick of time added on at the end of the regulation 90 minutes. However, Hibs were not to be denied.
And Cadden’s goal with 99 minutes on the clock, combined with a couple of heroic saves from keeper Jordan Smith, who was more than responsible for at least one of Partizan’s goals, was enough to seal the victory.
Finally, remember to breathe. Does anyone remember how this game began? Hibs could have put the tie beyond doubt in the first three minutes with Cadden’s close-range shot from a Martin Boyle cross – shouldn’t it be the other way around?
– not forced a superb point-blank save from Marko Milosevic. After such a promising start, home fans began to fantasise about a relaxing evening watching their heroes.
Young Milan Vukotic, a player coveted by numerous clubs across Europe, had other plans. Picking up a loose ball from about 25 yards out, his right-footed strike found the top corner despite Jordan Smith’s best efforts. It was squeaky bum time, then.
Gray’s team responded with a flurry of chances in and around the half-hour mark, a couple of Boyle crosses causing all sorts of havoc in the Partizan defence before a short corner on the right allowed Dylan Levitt to swing in a left-footed delivery that met big Rocky Bushiri climbing above everyone at the far post.
Unfortunately for the Congolese defender, he just couldn’t direct his header on the right side of the post.
In truth, though, it was the visitors who took control of the game as halftime approached, with Hibs frequently reduced to simply kicking the ball far away and hoping it stayed in the opposition half long enough to regroup.
This was shaping up to be a tough night. The mood was barely lifted when the Serbs doubled their lead just before halftime.
If any of Hibs’ two or three players were to blame for allowing Jovan Milosevic to get away with his weak left-footed shot from about 10 yards, Smith must bear the brunt of being beaten by an absolute trundler of a strike.
Hibernian continued to look shaky in the second half. However, in Bowie, they have a player capable of doing anything. There should have been no danger as he waited under a dropping ball about 30 yards from goal.
But one powerful swing of the boot left visiting custodian Milosevic stranded as his effort looped high into the night sky, dropping just under the bar and an inch from the post.
Scotland’s head coach, Steve Clarke, must have been impressed as he watched from the main stand. But will the 22-year-old’s spectacular strike be enough to propel Hibs over the line?
The home crowd, ecstatic at their good fortune to be present to witness such a strike in person, was enlivened even more when Nikola Simic was sent off for a second booking moments after the fifth goal of the night.
Nothing could go wrong right now… But all of the joy was sucked out of the atmosphere in the cruellest of ways when, just into the sixth minute of five added on, substitute Andrej Kostic beat Smith with a killer cut-back to send the game to extra time.
After being knocked out of the Europa League in extra time by Midtjylland, surely this could not happen again?
Cadden stepped up to deliver. After Josh Mulligan cut in from the right and hit a difficult-to-hold shot, the wingback capitalised on a rebound.
And embarked on an unforgettable lap of honour. There was still time for drama.
Smith, who had already made amends for his earlier gaffe with a couple of excellent saves, pulled off a stunning one-on-one save to deny Mario Jurcevic. And for a Partizan goal to be ruled out for offside. And Smith will make one more brilliant save.
Cadden stepped up to deliver. After Josh Mulligan cut in from the right and hit a difficult-to-hold shot, the wingback capitalised on a rebound. And embarked on an unforgettable lap of honour. There was still time for drama.
Smith, who had already made amends for his earlier gaffe with a couple of excellent saves, pulled off a stunning one-on-one save to deny Mario Jurcevic. And for a Partizan goal to be ruled out for offside. And Smith will make one more brilliant save.
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