Hibernian's quest for European group-stage football ended in agonising fashion with a 3-2 home defeat to Gent. The Scottish Premiership side led 2-1 with 13 minutes remaining but conceded twice late on to exit the Europa Conference League play-offs.

For the second year running, a stoppage-time goal sealed their fate. Last season it was Legia Warsaw; this time, Gent's Ibrahima Cisse forced an own goal from Miguel Chaiwa in the 91st minute to complete a dramatic turnaround. The result means a potential financial windfall of around £5 million for reaching the group stage slipped through their grasp.

Head coach David Gray had labelled the second leg a cup final. His team, playing in front of a sold-out Easter Road, responded by fighting back from a goal down. Jason Kerr, a lifelong Hibs fan, powered home a header from Jamie McGrath's cross to equalise on 56 minutes. Felix Passlack then put the hosts ahead with a fierce strike via the post 11 minutes from time.

Familiar failing proves costly

Hibernian's vulnerability in the closing stages, a noted issue under Gray, resurfaced at the worst possible moment. Christian Burgess headed Gent level from a corner with six minutes of normal time left. Then, with the tie seemingly headed for extra time, Kanayo Megwa's misplaced header led to the decisive breakaway and Chaiwa's unfortunate intervention.

The Zambian defender was sent off for a second yellow card moments later, leaving Hibs to finish the match with ten men. The full-time whistle saw several players collapse to the turf in despair.

"It's devastating," Gray told reporters after the match. "The players gave everything and to lose it like that in the last minute is a real sickener."

The defeat was compounded by the absence of striker Owen Elding, who missed a penalty in the first-leg goalless draw and was injured for the return. Martin Boyle led the line in his place and had a first-half goal disallowed for handball after a VAR review.

This exit mirrors last season's heartbreak, when Hibs were three minutes from eliminating Legia Warsaw in Poland. The immediate focus now shifts to domestic matters, with a Premiership fixture against Aberdeen this weekend. The squad will also be looking to bounce back in the League Cup, with their next match in that competition scheduled for next month.