Soccer
Hibernian hold off Shkendija to reach Conference League play-off
Hibernian held firm in the Skopje heat to grind out a goalless draw with Shkendija and set up a showdown with Belgian side Gent in the Conference League play-off.
The Hibees arrived in North Macedonia protecting a 2-1 lead from the first leg of their third qualifying round tie after Warren O’Hora’s late winner at Easter Road.
And that goal from the Irish defender ultimately proved decisive as there was no further scoring in a tightly-contested second leg in the Todor Proeski National Arena.
After withstanding some late pressure to eliminate a Shkendija side that reached the knockout phase play-off round of last year’s Conference League, the Hibs players celebrated in front of their 350 jubilant supporters who had travelled to the Balkans.
Boss David Gray made four changes to the side that started Sunday’s William Hill Premiership victory away to Rangers as Owen Elding, Nathan Lowe, Felix Passlack and Callum Wright replaced Ante Suto, Thibault Klidje, Josh Campbell and Kanayo Megwa.
Shkendija were first to threaten when Almir Kryeziu sent a low shot just wide from the edge of the box.
Hibs’ first opportunity came in the 18th minute when Wright, who scored the late winner at Ibrox on Sunday, was just unable to make contact at the back post after Passlack’s corner had been flicked on by Jason Kerr.
Clear chances were scarce at both ends in the first half, although Elding and Lowe both had shots from promising positions in the box blocked by defenders.
At the other end, Kryeziu cut in from the left and fired over from 25 yards out as a low-key 45 minutes ended goalless.
The hosts started the second period on the front foot, with Fabrice Tamba firing harmlessly wide shortly before Fahd Ndzengue rasped an angled effort into the side netting after being set free in the box by Tamba.
Hibs had a golden chance to break the deadlock in the 54th minute but Lowe blasted straight at goalkeeper Ferat Ramani after Elding’s dinked pass over the top had sent the striker racing into the box.
Ramani then had to dive bravely at the feet of Elding as he tried to get on the end of Adam Mayor’s low delivery from the left before the keeper scrambled away Elding’s shot from the edge of the box.
Shkendija cranked up the pressure in the closing stages in a desperate effort to salvage the tie but Hibs’ defence were generally able to keep them at arm’s length as they closed out a 2-1 aggregate victory.
