Hibernian's UEFA Conference League campaign ended in heartbreak after a 3-2 defeat to Gent at Easter Road. The result gave the Belgian side a 3-2 aggregate victory in the play-off round, eliminating Hibs from European competition for the second year running.
According to a match report from the Edinburgh News, the tie was decided by two dramatic late moments. Gent took the lead through Josue Vergara before Jason Kerr and Felix Passlack scored to put Hibs ahead on the night. Cameron Burgess's header leveled the match before a late own goal from Miguel Chaiwa, who was then sent off, sealed the Scottish side's fate. The own goal came after substitute Kanayo Megwa lost possession in the build-up.
What did David Gray say after the match?
Hibernian manager David Gray refused to single out individuals for the costly late errors. He praised his team's overall effort across the two legs. "It’s hard to be critical of the players about the effort they’ve put in," Gray said. "And I think over the two legs we deserved to go through." He felt the outcome was decided in two massive moments at the end of the game, rather than by a poor performance.
Gray's side now sit 7th in the Scottish Premiership with 3 points from their opening two games, having won one and lost one. They have scored 3 goals and conceded 3, leaving them with a zero goal difference at this early stage. The focus must immediately shift to domestic matters, with a tough away fixture against Dundee coming up this Sunday. Dundee currently sit 2nd in the table, making it a significant early-season test.
How does this affect Hibernian's season?
The European exit is a major blow to the club's ambitions and finances. It marks the second consecutive season Hibs have fallen at the Conference League play-off stage, having been knocked out by Legia Warsaw last year. The team must now channel their frustration into their Premiership campaign, where they currently trail leaders Celtic by 3 points.
Striker Owen Elding missed the Gent match with a calf injury, but the club hopes the issue is not a long-term one. His return would be a boost as Hibs look to improve their league position. You can track the team's availability on our injuries page.
What is the immediate focus for Hibs?
All attention turns to the trip to Dens Park to face Dundee. That match represents a chance to bounce back and climb the standings. The squad will need to regroup quickly after the emotional European disappointment. Manager David Gray will be demanding a response as his team looks to build momentum in the league.
Gent manager Rik De Mil was pleased with his team's character after the match. "I’m very happy with the character of the boys," he said. "We played well in the first half and found spaces, creating some chances." His side progress to the group stages while Hibs are left to reflect on what might have been. The full schedule of domestic fixtures can be found on our fixtures page.
