Hibernians  4

FK Sarajevo  4

Conceding at home proved costly for Hibernians and although they drew 4-4 with FK Sarajevo in the second leg yesterday, it was not enough for them to progress to the next round. FK Sarajevo emerged 9-6 winners on aggregate.

In an enthralling first half, that eclipsed the second in terms of action, goals and excitement, Hibernians managed to erase an early deficit and draw level, only to concede two sloppy goals midway through the half and lose the plot.

To their credit, Hibernians were not demorilised and from 3-1 down, fought back to take a 4-3 lead by halftime, courtesy of two goals apiece by Marcelo Dias and Jean Paul Farrugia.

For all their plucky efforts, Hibernians were even denied a deserved win at the end as Sarajevo scored late to level matters.

At kick-off, Hibernians had to overturn a three-goal deficit against superior technical opponents from Bosnia Herzegovina. That in itself already looked a tall order, undermined further by notable absentees Clayton Failla, Jonathan Pearson and the suspended Rodolfo Soares. Adrian Pulis played as centre back alongside Jason Vandelannoite,with Edward Herrera deployed as right back.

Hibernians conceded the initiative to Sarajevo in the opening minutes, as they took some time to settle into the match.

In fact the Paolites only jerked into shape after going a goal down, hardly one minute after Sarajevo had hit the woodwork through Emir Hadzic with his shot from the edge of the area. On 12 minutes, the same player did better as he ran in well to connect to Suldic’s cross from the right to beat the static Hibernians’ defence and keeper Muscat.

But the locals’ immediate response got them close past the quarter hour. Vandelannoite headed a Lima corner inches wide.

On 19 minutes, Farrugia should have done better, running through inside the Sarajevo area on a Cohen pass, but was blocked by the keeper.

Three minutes later, Hibernians even managed to draw level. Marcelo Dias’ perfect elevation on Cohen’s cross allowed him to head past the helpless Sarajevo keeper, heralding the Paolites’ best patch.

Unfortunately that came to a brisk halt as Sarajevo scored twice within four minutes. On 23 minutes, Asmir Suldic ran in down the right on Husejinovic’s pass to beat Muscat with a low diagonal drive. Four minutes later, on a Sesar corner from the left, Hadzic was allowed a free header to score from close range.

Hibernians summoned enough effort though to score three more goals and overturn the tables before halftime.

On 35 minutes, Lima played a wide perfect pass to the advancing Dias to shoot powerfully low past keeper Adilovic.

Hibernians drew level five minutes later. Vandelannoite’s deep cross from the right fell to Jean Paul Farrugia who rose to head in from a tight angle.

The Paolites were all over their opponents. Herrera’s rising shot went narrowly over and with halftime looming, Farrugia again hit a powerful shot past the keeper, on a Dias pass, to give Hibernians the lead for the first time in the match.

Hibernians needed three more goals in the second half, but their energies were drained after all the first half effort. Sarajevo could control the proceedings with minimal difficulty as Hibernians only threatened with a Lima free kick and a missed half chance by Pisani until the hour.

It was only in the last 20 minutes that Hibernians again tried to up the tempo, winning a sequence of corners and going close through substitute Bezzina and Lima, but they could not produce the speed and cohesion of the first half.

And as the minutes ticked away, Sarajevo managed to pull a late equaliser through substitute Radam Sundevaric. But Hibernians’ hopes of qualification had already evaporated in the hot air.

Hibernians: M. Muscat, E. Herrera, A. Pulis, R. Camilleri, S. Pisani (J. Bezzina), A. Cohen, B. Kristensen, M. Dias, J. Lima, J. Vandelannoite, J.P. Farrugia

FK Sarajevo: A. Adilovic, I. Sesar, I. Husejimovic (R. Sundevaric), I. Tatomirovic, Z. Belosevic (Z. Karamatic), N. Zlatkovic, S. Tjorlak, D. Gomor, E. Hadzic (N. Haskic), A. Suldic, B. Gudic

Referee: A. Nemec (Hungary)

Scorers: E. Hadzic 12, 27, M. Dias 22, 35, A. Suldic 23, J.P. Farrugia 40,44, R. Sundevaric 90