You must tip your hat to Lee Johnson. Hibernian’s manager is getting used to his stack of credit chips running low in the eyes of the supporters.
Each time, without fail, he bets the lottery ticket on a large number, watches the ball spin around the wheel and sees it land in the desired hole.
As he walked out of the Swissporarena on Thursday night, the little Englishman is said to have felt 10 feet tall. This was a night where all of his songs came out.
Lucerne’s scalp in the Conference League will be remembered long after the opening defeats to St Mirren and Motherwell.
A seismic battle with Aston Villa now awaits the Edinburgh club. John McGinn’s return to Leith is underway.
Hibernian booked a Conference League play-off fixture against Aston Villa following a draw against Lucerne
Elie Youan opened the scoring for the visitors, while Martin Boyle scored in the second half
Youan collected the ball on the halfway line before driving into space and shooting superbly at goal
Even if they go this far in the competition, the tie will significantly swell their coffers and capture the imagination of their fans. As a result, there can be no discussion about the manager’s future for the time being.
What a night this was for the Edinburgh club and their embattled boss.
With a two-goal lead from the first leg, they drew first blood through Elie Youan, but endured a difficult period as the Swiss struck back quickly through Jakob Kadak.
They might have lost their cool when Lucerne were inexplicably allowed to keep a full complement of players when Martin Boyle was brought down when he was clearly on target and suffered another nerve test when Kemal Ademi scored a second goal with 25 minutes remaining.
But soon after, the wind was taken out of Lucerne’s sails as Youan set up Boyle to restore a two-goal aggregate lead. The Swiss were a defeated team from the moment the winger flashed the ball in.
What a night Youan had. Still on the books of Lucerne’s rivals St Gallen until he made his move to Edinburgh permanent this summer with a £500,000 move, he tortured his opponents with his pace and power.
His contribution to a result that brought the club £200,000 in prize money – before they had even sold a ticket to the next round – was hard to underestimate. The Frenchman will draw immeasurable credence from his display, as would any man who contributed to a famous evening.
After going broke in the first leg, Johnson formed more conservatively with a narrow three-man midfield.
Still, they soon found they weren’t in town to just load the sandbags with Josh Campbell’s shot from 60 feet, worrying goalkeeper Pascal Loretz.
Hibs looked sharper in the beginning. And when an aimless Lucerne throw-in gave them a false chance after 10 minutes, they seized it.
Youan still had everything to do when the lost ball came to him just inside the Swiss half. How he ate the ground. After earning the right to try his luck, he saw his effort fly just below the crossbar with his right foot using a slight deflection.
So often undone by his questionable decision making, Youan’s moment of quality thrilled the visitors.
The jubilant scenes lasted just six minutes. Max Meyer’s attack from the edge of the box was well handled by David Marshall.
Living on the situation, Lars Villiger took the ball on the right and recycled it.
The hosts hit back through Jakub Kadak, who buried behind David Marshall at close range
Kemal Ademi had nodded home from a corner to set up the grandstand finish in Switzerland
Kadak scored the equalizer in the night with a volley.
Johnson’s side dusted off. Joe Newell, the hero of the first leg, found Dylan Vente with pinpoint accuracy from a free kick. The Dutchman flashed over.
A moment later came a moment of enormous controversy. A brilliant touch by Boyle pulled him away from Nicky Beloko and started pulling the trigger.
The Hibs winger fell on the edge of the box expecting a free kick and Beloko was sent off. Remarkably enough, the Greek referee saw nothing wrong.
Johnson made his feelings clear to the fourth official, but it was clear that his words would not make any difference.
Marshall played his part to keep his side in the stands before the break with a fine save to stop Severin Ottiger.
What would not have given Hibs to restore the lead early in the second period. Youan had a chance to do this, but didn’t get a buy on his low hit.
Lee Johnson’s side triumphed on aggregate and are now one match away from the group stage
Just like Easter Road, it was tough. Dylan Levitt stumbled off after taking a boring one from Ardon Jashari with Jimmy Jeggo.
Happy to give up the flanks, the visitors invited a barrage of crossballs. At least from open play they claimed more than their fair share.
Concentration was the key to crossing the line. Lewis Miller’s was flawless as he denied Kadak a shot on target in the box. Alas, Paul Hanlon’s was not as the Swiss continued that night.
Martin Frydek’s corner kick landed on the wrong side of substitute Ademi’s defender. A six-meter downward header lifted the roof in the stadium.
With 25 minutes left, this became a huge test of Hibs’ mental strength. Once again the excellent Youan dug deep and delivered.
He won a loose ball on an increasingly rare counter he couldn’t claim, beating a defender and going to the line. When another blue shirt tried to stop him, he played a perfect cut for Boyle. The left foot finish was clinical.
Lucerne immediately began to look desperate. Hibs was already dreaming of a reunion with an old friend.
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