In a heart-wrenching twist of fate, Hibernian’s aspirations in the Europa League came to an abrupt and dramatic end, as they were knocked out in the final moments of extra time by Danish side Midtjylland. The tie, which had been finely balanced, concluded with an overhead stunner that sealed Hibs’ fate, despite a valiant effort and an admirable display of resilience from David Gray’s squad.

The decisive blow arrived in the 119th minute, a spectacular overhead kick from Brazilian forward Junior Brumado, which ultimately secured a hard-fought victory for Midtjylland. This late moment of brilliance, occurring deep into extra time, left Hibs players and fans alike reeling from the sheer agony of a European exit snatched from their grasp at the last possible moment.

Earlier in the high-stakes encounter, Midtjylland had seen their opener, a superb strike by Dario Osorio, nullified by a powerful equalizer from Hibs’ own Rocky Bushiri. The back-and-forth nature of the game underscored the competitive spirit of both teams, with each side battling fiercely for dominance and a pathway into the next stage of the prestigious European competition.

Following their elimination from the Europa League, David Gray’s team now transitions into the Conference League. Their next challenge awaits in the third qualifying round, where they are set to face Partizan Belgrade. The first leg of this crucial tie is scheduled to take place next Thursday in the Serbian capital, marking a new chapter in their European campaign.

Hibs manager David Gray expressed a mix of emotions following the defeat, acknowledging the deep disappointment of losing while simultaneously expressing immense pride in his players’ performance. He lauded their effort, stating, “I can’t ask the players for any more,” highlighting the team’s commitment and determination throughout the challenging encounter.

Gray further reflected on the quality of goals that ultimately decided the tie over both legs, remarking that it took “three spectacular goals for a top team to beat us.” He specifically pointed to the brilliant free-kick in the first leg, Midtjylland’s opening goal in the second leg, and the winning overhead kick as examples of elite finishing that proved too much for his side.

Addressing speculation about potential new signings, including Scotland defender Grant Hanley who was present at Easter Road, Gray chose to focus on the current squad. He reiterated the club’s ongoing efforts to strengthen during the transfer window but emphasized his desire to discuss the players who had performed admirably on the pitch in such a demanding fixture.

Midtjylland’s coach, Thomas Thomasberg, also shared his perspective, asserting that his team deserved to progress to the Europa League third qualifying round, where they will now meet Norwegians Fredrikstad. He commended Hibs as a “difficult opponent” and acknowledged the hard work required in both games to secure their advancement, expressing happiness despite the long wait for the winning goal.