Hibernian secured their place in the next round of the Conference League qualifiers following a commanding 4-1 victory over Malisheva in the second leg at Easter Road, overturning a two-goal deficit from the first match.
The Scottish club had faced significant criticism following their 2-0 defeat in Kosovo the previous week, with some travelling supporters voicing their displeasure. However, the team's response in the second leg shifted the mood dramatically, with manager David Gray seeing his name chanted by the home crowd.
Hibernian started the match with high intensity, quickly erasing the first-leg disadvantage. Martin Boyle was instrumental in the early surge, contributing to the team wiping out the two-goal deficit within the first 15 minutes. Boyle later extended the lead, making it 4-0 on the night.
Despite a late consolation goal from Malisheva and a slight drop in tempo in the final 20 minutes, Gray expressed satisfaction with his team's performance. "We spoke about the intensity we want to play at, the intent from the start to play forward, run forward and get the crowd behind us," he stated after the match. He added that the team deserved their victory and could have secured an even larger margin of win, noting several missed chances and hitting the woodwork.
Reflecting on the pressure after the first leg, Gray acknowledged the difference between playing and coaching. "It's different for a coach winning games to being a player," he said. "Relief kicks in and then it's the next game. You enjoy it for two minutes and then on to the next one."
The aggregate victory ensures Hibernian will advance to face HJK Helsinki in the third qualifying round of the Conference League.