Hibernian 3 AEK 2 (agg: 3 - 4)

September 27th 2001
UEFA Cup - First Round - Second Leg
Attendance: 16,647.

Scorers:
Hibernian: Luna(2), Zitelli.
AEK: Tsartas(2).

This is a copy of a report of the game as it appeared in the Scotsman on Friday 28th September 2001

Hibs put in extra shift, but AEK triumph

There was passion, joy, hope and pain all stabbing at the chests of those at Easter Road last night. Alas, the ultimate emotion can only be deflation after AEK finally smothered a brave Hibs side in extra time. Paco Luna’s second-half double, the latter arriving with just nine minutes of regulation time left, sent the tie spinning into an extra 30 minutes, and had the home faithful eyeing a European night set to enter into local lore.

It was more than anyone had dared hope for beforehand, but just as the supporters were raising their sights, Vasillis Tsartas delivered the kind of swift blow that within a single heartbeat can turn the cheers of 17,000 into a whisper. Tsartas, who scored a penalty in Athens last week, sprang from the bench to do so again, this time courtesy of a 22-yard drive that searched out a corner of Nick Colgan’s net.

A further extra-time goal from Tsartas directly from a corner offered the game an underwelming conclusion, one that was so far removed from what had gone before.

Substitute David Zitelli’s strike with five minutes remaining did at least give Hibs the victory-on-the-night they so richly deserved, the Frenchman lobbing AEK keeper Dionissis Chiotis from all of 25 yards.

It had all promised so much more after Luna’s aggregate- levelling goal, poked home from close range, gave cause for a roar that would surely have disturbed those creatures living on the Forth river bed.

The eruption came in the knowledge that Hibs had succeeded in taking this frenetic UEFA Cup tie into extra time, a victory of sorts.

It was not though enough, and Hibs must seek to continue their impressive progress under McLeish in the domestic environment this season.

The portents had been favourable at the outset.With Franck Sauzee back at the helm anything and everything is thought possible in these parts.

The Frenchman reprised his sweeper’s role, while Paco Luna was chosen to partner Greek footballing expert Craig Brewster in a strike force charged with the solemn task of keeping Hibs in the UEFA Cup.

The facts were indeed stark enough: Hibs required two goals at least in order to extend their stay in a competition that was reward for last season’s impressive SPL finish.

For a side who have plundered twelve goals in their last three league games, was this so tall an order?

McLeish retained faith in Brewster, who had toiled somewhat in Athens in the first leg, but is still blessed with a knowledge of his opponents that marked him out as something of a totem.

It was his partner who struck first, however, Luna unleashing a shot that skimmed the surface and asked much of AEK keeper Dionissis Chiotis, who had replaced injured first-choice Ilias Atmatzidis. The keeper spilled the ball, but then did well to recover at the feet of Brewster. It was the frantic start expected, as Hibs sought the early goal that would at least begin the recovery process after last week.

There were though reminders of the danger in turning thoughts only to the front. A turn by Vassilis Lakis left Ulrik Laursen in a heap, but his cross was turned behind by Sauzee. It had been though the classic counter-attack, a welcome one in that it gave Hibs an insight into what might breed from any neglect of defensive duties.

Still, the bulk of the play remained compacted around the AEK goal, and in front of the noisy pocket of Greek fans. It wasn’t quite their skepasti end at the Nikos Goumas stadium, but they made it as homely as they could, stringing gaudy yellow banners up behind them, and, considering there was no sunshine in Leith last night, heroically exposing their tanned chests to the Forth estuary winds.

All the time Hibs pressed towards them, but what McLeish’s side would have done to trade just one of their recent SPL haul of goals for a counter here.

Laursen headed agonisingly over, and then a De la Cruz shot was saved by the keeper, who then flicked the rebound away with his feet as Luna waited to pounce. The swell of pressure threatened to overcome Athens, but they hung together, and even made it up the park to score themselves, Lakis’ flying header, ruled offside.

Hibs simply surged forward again, but Luna’s header with five minutes until half time looped just over.

McLeish had spoken before the game of the need for patience, and mentioned that even a goal-less first half would not be a sign to panic. The fans clearly heeded their manager, at the break belting out a "Sunshine on Leith" shot through with emotion and belief.

The players returned re-focused, and renewed. Eight minutes after the restart, they claimed the goal that had refused to come in the opening 45 minutes.

A De la Cruz cross from the right was flicked on by John O’Neil to Ian Murray, who was sensibly attacking the far post. The former Easter Road ball boy got his head to the cross, but it needed Luna to apply the force to carry the ball over the line.

And what force. The ball cracked off the bar, and rebounded back off the ground into the roof of the net. Joy similarly exploded in the stands, with wrist watches furiously tapped. A new enemy had now lumbered into view, with time having joined forces with AEK.

Shortly after Luna had forced a magnificent save from Chiotis, Tom McManus came on to replace Brewster, and add pace to this mighty effort.

Luna was to get the better of the keeper once more but alas that was as good as it got for HIbs.

The Teams:

Hibernian: Colgan, Laursen, Murray, Sauzee, De La Cruz, Jack, Orman, O'Neil, Brewster, Luna, Fenwick.


AEK: Chiotis, Marcia, Gamarra, Ramos, Kasapis, Zikos, Zagorakis, Costenoglu, Maladenis, Konstantinidis, Demis Nikolaidis.
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Tale from the Armchair - Fatty's View

An absolutely asstounding performance by Hibs, matched only by the level of dissapointment felt by the Hibs fans at full time.

With two goals to make up after the first leg, Hibs started like a whirlwind and never let up throughout the whole of the 90 minutes. Unfortunately they only had two goals to show for their efforts so it was necessary to go into extra-time. Paco Luna was both saint and sinner as he scored both the goals, but unfortunately missed the easiest chance of the match in the dying seconds of normal time.

The game as a contest lasted until two minutes into the first period of extra time - when the Greeks scored and it was all over. They added another before the break and it began to look as though Hibs could lose the match as well as the tie.

However Hibs rallied a bit and eventually got the third goal thanks to a marvellous 35 yard strike from Zittelli. It was only fair that they won the tie after every single player had given a top class performance on the night.

Although it is no disgrace to lose to a team of the stature of AEK, every Hibs fan will hope that we can return to Eueope again next year and once again sample the attmosphere generated by a superb Hibs on the night.

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