Rijeka 4-1 Hibs: European jaunt comes to juddering halt in Croatia
The Easter Road side could, and arguably should, have won the first leg but the teams went into the return game tied at 1-1.
Hibs were without captain Paul Hanlon and striker Christian Doidge, and their absence was keenly felt as the Capital club toiled in the Croatian heat.
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Hide AdDomagoj Pavicic put the hosts ahead shortly before the break but Kyle Magennis equalised, giving Hibs hope.
But a daft red card for Darren McGregor, who had picked up a needless booking early on, did for the visitors and they conceded twice in five minutes with Issah Abass netting both.
Substitute Denis Bušnja added insult to injury in added time as he waltzed through the defence and drew Matt Macey before firing home to complete a 5-2 aggregate win for the Prva HNL side.
Rijeka v Hibs
Key Events
- First leg finished 1-1
- Doidge and Hanlon miss out for Hibs
- Nisbet returns to starting XI
Goal for Rijeka
Things go from bad to worse for Hibs as Abass restores Rijeka’s lead shortly after the red card.
Goal for Rijeka
Abass scores his second in five minutes - possibly a touch off Paul McGinn - and Rijeka are now 3-1 up on the night and 4-2 on aggregate.
Things not looking good for Hibs now - down to ten men and trailing on aggregate and on the night. Nisbet has a deflected effort and Gogic can’t get his header down from the resulting corner.
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