Vente Helps Hibs to European Victory

Hibs put the weekend woes to bed, bouncing back with a 3-1 win against FC Luzern, James McKenzie reports.

Lee Johnson’s Hibernian bounced back from an opening day defeat to record an impressive 3-1 victory over FC Luzern in the Europa Conference League third qualifying round.

Expectations were mixed amongst the Easter Road faithful, and eyebrows were raised at the very attacking eleven named by Lee Johnson as well as the inclusion of new signing Dylan Vente.

Hibs came out of the blocks fast as they harried the opposition with their press however, they started to become more comfortable sitting in which allowed Luzern to implement their game.

Chances proved a premium in the first period with Luzern dictating the play in the midfield and winger Teddy Okou causing all sorts of problems as he forced David Marshall into an early save.

Despite the slow pace for the rest of the first half, the noise levels at Easter Road never dipped and they were about to explode in the second half.

Less than 30 seconds into the second half Hibs carved open a slow-to-react Luzern defence as Vente laid off a low Boyle cross to Joe Newell who elegantly curled it from outside the area into the top left corner.

The one goal wasn’t enough however as they swiftly pursued a second. Chances fell the way of Will Fish and Adam Le Fondre in quick succession, but both saw their efforts go wide of the mark.

Just as Hibs seemed to be gaining a stranglehold of the game and looked eager for more goals they were hit with a dagger as the defence fell asleep at a corner kick allowing Ismajl Beka to drift in and guide his header home.

The game started to get feisty from here with the noise levels rising even further and the tackles beginning to fly in.

Hibs thrived off of the chaos and blew the roof off of Easter Road again in the 72nd minute as Adam Le Fondre showed some fantastic technique to control a loose Lewis Stevenson cross and teed up debutant Dylan Vende who grabbed his debut goal and put the Hibees back in front.

Despite being ahead it was still a slender margin to take into the away leg so there were no surprises at the surge for a third.

There was a heart in mouth moment with ten left to play as just seconds after Doidge missed from close range Luzern rushed up the other end with a long-range effort from Pius Dorn cracking the crossbar.

Hibs would have the final say though as substitute Jordan Obita pounced upon a sloppy pass and darted all the way up the field from the centre circle to calmly slot home Hibs’ third and made the task for the away leg next weekend just a little bit easier.