The Easter Road side peppered Nediljko Labrović’s goal in both halves with Lewis Stevenson hitting the post and Jamie Murphy and Kevin Nisbet hooting straight at the 21-year-old ‘keeper in the opening 45 minutes.
Nisbet must have thought he’d levelled as he headed goalwards from close range but Labrović pulled off a fine save, only for Boyle to smash home the rebound.
Daniel Mackay had a glorious chance to score the winner when he was sent through one-on-one by substitute Scott Allan but Labrović stood up well and denied the summer signing a stunning winner for Jack Ross’ side.
Hibs should feel confident when they travel to Croatia next week – although there will be a feeling that they could have, and maybe should have, made life a lot easier for themselves.
Relive the action below.
HIbs v HNK Rijeka
Last updated: Thursday, 05 August, 2021, 20:15
Good evening!
Another Thursday night, another European fixture for the mighty green and white. Croatia’s Rijeka are the visitors tonight - we’ll have all the action from what is hopefully a memorable night for Hibs.
Team news is in
Macey; McGinn, Porteous, Hanlon, Stevenson; Magennis, Newell, Doyle-Hayes; Murphy, Nisbet, Boyle.
Subs: Dabrowski, Samson, Doig, McGregor, Brydon, Gogic, Mackay, Wright, Campbell, Allan, Gullan, Doidge.
Just the one change from Sunday as Doyle-Hayes, who entered the fray as a second-half substitute, replaces Alex Gogic in the starting line-up.
Tonight’s referee
The man in the middle tonight is Juan Martínez Munuera, a bit of a queso grande in La Liga. He’s been a top-flight whistler since 2013 and he took charge of the 2021 Copa del Rey final and was a Video Assistant Referee (VAR) during Euro 2020.
It’s also not his first time taking charge of a Hibs game - he oversaw Hibs’ 1-0 home loss to Brondby in July 2016.
Tonight is his 305th match as a referee.
Looks like Rijeka will be wearing their change kit this evening - a sort of cherry/maroon(!) colour with sky blue piping. More Whitehill Welfare than West Ham...
Ten minutes until kick-off
Not long now before the teams return to the park for the start of this Europa Conference League third qualifying round first-leg encounter.
Bit of a heart-in-mouth moment for Hanlon as an attempted clearance gets caught in his feet but the chance fizzles out for Rijeka.
Magennis flights in a free kick to the backpost, Hanlon goes up for it but his header is over the bar and he collides - somehow -with goalkeeper Labrovic and Vukcevic - all players receiving treatment.