Recalling Hibs experiencing the cruellest of Greek tragedies against AEK Athens

Hibees came close to incredible turnaround

Paco Luna scored twice and came within inches of bagging a hat-trick at the death

As modern-day European nights go, Hibs against AEK Athens will live long in the memory of the 16,647 fans who packed out Easter Road on September 27, 2001.

Alex McLeish’s strong Hibs side had more than earned their shot at the UEFA Cup with an excellent 2000/01 SPL campaign, but their reward was a tough tie against Greek cracks AEK, whose team contained some seasoned internationalists.

Hibs had lost the first leg at the intimidating Nikos Goumas Stadium 2-0 and most observers felt the damage had been done in Athens, the lack of an away goal hindering Hibs’ prospects.

Even still, Easter Road crackled with excitement – perhaps not with the same hostility of AEK’s ground – as the players took the field on a pleasant autumnal evening.

AEK tried to keep the match tight and niggly, with their general in midfield, Greek internationalist Theo Zagorakis, snapping away at any forward-thinking Hibs player. The Capital team was the more threatening in an entertaining first half, but unorthodox Dionisis Chiotis in the AEK goal repelled any shots that came his way.

Hibs had talismanic sweeper Franck Sauzee back in the starting XI after he missed the match in Greece and his presence calmed the Hibs team. The tactics were clear – funnel the ball out wide to Ulises De La Cruz and pepper the AEK box with crosses for Craig Brewster and Paco Luna to attack.

On 53 minutes, that method worked. De La Cruz’s cross was flicked to the back post by Brewster. Ian Murray nodded the ball towards Luna and the Spaniard’s diving header found its way home via the underside of the bar. Easter Road erupted. Game well and truly on.

AEK lost their swagger of earlier and could not keep hold of the ball. Roared on by the crowd, Hibs attacked. Brewster and Luna nearly found the equaliser. But then disaster struck. Sauzee, already suffering from a blow to his eye socket, exacerbated a long-standing heel injury. The Frenchman punched the dugout in frustration. Hibs would need to do this without him.

With eight minutes left, Hibs found the equaliser. Ulrik Laursen headed a free-kick back across goal and Luna slid in to drill the ball past Chiotis. Pandemonium. The tie was level.

Then came one of Hibs’ great “what if” moments. De La Cruz swung a ball into the box in stoppage time and the AEK defence, by this point completely on the ropes, left Luna with all the space and time he needed to head home. The Spaniard didn’t. Eight yards out, his effort whistled wide of Chiotis’ post. The knock-out blow did not land.

Both teams were out on their feet as Polish referee Jacek Granat blew for full-time. The fans weren’t though. Anyone within Easter Road will recall the rendition of Sunshine On Leith as Alex McLeish’s men prepared for extra-time. AEK Athens’ pocket of fans retorted by doing a conga around their small section in the South Stand.

Perhaps buoyed by Luna’s miss, AEK started the next 30 minutes strongly and their substitute, cultured midfielder Vasillios Tsiartas, put a spear through Hibs’ hopes. There seemed little danger when he picked the ball up outside the Hibs box but his low daisy-cutter squirmed past Hibs keeper Nick Colgan. AEK’s fans almost invaded the pitch and set off yellow flares, such was their jubilation.

The away goal totally changed the dynamic of the match and AEK were in control. Hibs had kept their clinical striker Demis Nikolaidis quiet but it was Tsiartas who was the real danger now. His devilish corner kick from the left should have been dealt with by Colgan in particular, but it found its way directly into the net via a slight deflection. That was it, the tie over.

Hibs did have the final say when, deep into extra-time, substitute David Zitelli scored the goal of the match, a raking, swerving thunderbolt from at least 30 yards out. It was, however, too little too late as Hibs suffered the cruellest of Greek tragedies.