Heartbreak for Hibs in Six-Goal Warsaw Thriller
What a night it was in Warsaw, and what an agonising way for Hibernian’s European dream to come to an end. In one of the most dramatic ties of the Conference League play-offs, Hibs battled fiercely, scored three goals away from home, and came within touching distance of a famous result. Yet, in the cruelest fashion, Legia Warsaw found the goals they needed, and the Scots were left with only heartbreak.
Hibs went into this second leg with a mountain to climb, trailing 2-1 from the first match in Edinburgh. Things looked even bleaker when Vahan Bichakhchyan struck for Legia after just 13 minutes, stretching the Poles’ advantage to 3-1 on aggregate. The Polish crowd roared, and for many, it might have seemed like the tie was already slipping away. But that’s when Hibs found something special.
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Rocky Bushiri sparked belief with a close-range header early in the second half. Just minutes later, Martin Boyle pounced to score again, suddenly levelling the tie. The home crowd, stunned into silence, could only watch as substitute Miguel Chaiwa added a third for Hibs, a brilliant solo effort that turned the game completely on its head. From being two down overall, David Gray’s side were suddenly 3-1 up on the night and ahead on aggregate.
But football has a way of twisting the knife. With the match deep into stoppage time and Hibs on the verge of a historic win, Juergen Elitim’s strike for Legia levelled the tie and dragged it into extra time. The momentum shifted again, and eight minutes into the added period, Mileta Rajovic hammered in what proved to be the decisive goal.
There was still drama left. Legia’s Jan Ziolkowski was sent off late on, giving Hibs hope of forcing penalties. They came so close—Boyle’s outrageous volley rattled the bar, Thibault Klidje lifted a chance just wide, and Kieron Bowie had a header clawed off the line in the dying seconds. But no equaliser arrived, and the aggregate score finished 5-4 in favour of the Poles.
It was an agonising exit, the kind that will sting for some time. Yet Hibs can walk away with immense pride. They went toe-to-toe with a side that reached the quarter-finals of this very competition last season and almost toppled them in their own backyard. The margins were razor thin; a matter of inches separated triumph from despair.
For now, Hibs’ European journey ends here, but the fight, spirit, and sheer drama of this performance will not be forgotten. Their focus now returns to the Scottish Premiership, where they will look to channel this energy into a strong domestic campaign. The defeat may have been painful, but the statement was clear—this Hibs side is not one to be underestimated.
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