Hibernian 3-1 Luzern: Aston Villa Europa Conference League tie comes into view after win

Two precocious goals gave Hibernian a perchance priceless vantage to instrumentality to Switzerland for the 2nd limb of their Europa Conference League qualifier against Luzern.

And though Ismajl Beka's header levelled wrong 10 minutes, Dylan Vente's debut extremity and a 90th-minute onslaught from Jordan Obita cleaved unfastened a two-goal pb and brought a play-off with Aston Villa a measurement closer.

The 2nd limb is successful Luzern adjacent Thursday (19:45) BST and should Hibs clasp firm, lone English Premier League opponents would basal betwixt them and the radical stage.

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The archetypal fractional hurried by successful a flash. Luzern dominated possession, some teams hassled and harried, but determination was small successful presumption of goalmouth action.

The closest Hibs came was erstwhile Martin Boyle launched a stinging thrust that Pascal Loretz had to extremity over. Newell was besides busy, blocking Pius Dorn with a captious artifact successful the box.

The English midfielder kick-started a second-half that could unrecorded agelong successful the representation of the Hibs fans successful Easter Road. Seconds aft the break, helium stroked the shot into the apical country from the borderline of the container to springiness Leith lift-off.

However the pb didn't past long. Hibs didn't woody with a set-piece, 6ft 6in centre-back Beka someway ghosting successful from a country and glancing a header past David Marshall.

But Hibs' content wasn't dented. Luzern failed to wide a cross, with Adam Le Fondre allowed to power the ball, spin, and transverse to an unmarked Vente to caput location from adjacent scope connected his archetypal Hibs appearance.

With Luzern throwing bodies guardant for an equaliser, Obita was capable to prime disconnected a stray walk and sprint astatine goal, bobbling a changeable into the bottommost country to springiness Hibs a two-goal cushion for the 2nd limb successful Switzerland.

Player of the lucifer - Dylan Vente (Hibernian)

Has Lee Johnson has recovered a finisher to regenerate Kevin Nisbet? Vente worked tirelessly each night.

Hibs bounce backmost to acceptable up McGinn showdown - analysis

Lee Johnson isn't acrophobic to level disapproval astatine his ain side. After the opening time decision by St Mirren, helium questioned the combat and tendency of his players.

They answered him here, and successful immoderate style. After the Luzern equaliser, tempers boiled implicit and the Swiss broadside were fortunate not to person 2 players sent off.

Lithuanian referee Robertas Valikonis was lenient, but Dylan Levitt and Newell weren't. They threw themselves into 4 challenges successful a row, mounting the code for their team-mates.

Hibs weren't consenting to settee for a draw. They wanted it more. The assemblage fed connected it. And present Hibs are favourites to acceptable up a necktie with Villa successful a fewer weeks time.

What's next?

Hibernian sojourn Motherwell successful Scottish Premiership enactment connected Sunday (15:00 BST) earlier adjacent Thursday's 2nd limb successful Luzern (19:45).