Hibs UEFA Conference League second-leg game against KF Shkëndija ended in a 0-0 draw which means that David Gray’s men will face a play-off fixture to gain access to the group stages.
Head coach Gray made four changes to his side after Sunday’s win against Rangers.
Calum Wright who scored Hibs dramatic stoppage-time winner at Ibrox made his first start at National Arena Toše Proeski, while Felix Passlack, Owen Elding and Nathan Lowe were the other players brought in for the clash in North Macedonia.
Kanayo Megwa, Josh Campbell, Thibault Klidjé and Ante Šuto all dropped out of the team and were all on the substitutes’ bench.
Jack Iredale also returned to the bench, having recently suffered from appendicitis.
Scotland World Cup defender Grant Hanley, Rocky Bushiri and Nicky Cadden were all absent from the matchday squad.
The hosts had an early chance when Almir Kryeziu fired inches wide of Raphael Sallinger’s post.
Miquel Chaiwa went down following a clash of heads and required treatment but was able to continue.
Hibs won their first corner in the 16th minute from the left and Callum Wright almost got on the end of Felix Passlack’s inswinger.
Moments later Nathan Lowe set up Owen Elding following a long throw from skipper Warren O’Hora, but his effort was blocked and cleared.
Then Elding set up Lowe but his effort was also blocked.
At the other end Almir Kryeziu fired high and wide from just outside the area.
Elding was unlucky to see his low cross turned behind for a corner which found Passlack in midfield and his looped cross was headed wide by Jason Kerr.
That was the end of the chances in an evenly fought first half, in which neither keeper was tested.
Shkendija started the second-half on the front foot and Fahd Ndzengue wete through one-on-one with Sallinger, but fired into the side netting.
And Jordan Obita was shown a yellow card for blocking off an attacker in the build up.
At the other end Elding set up Lowe but his effort was straight at the keeper. And that in the 53rd minute ws the first effort from either team on target.
Adam Mayor then did well to win possession high up the field and his low cross almost found Elding but the keeper got there first.
Wright was next to try his luck from the edge of the area but the keeper saved his effort.
The midfielder was then replaced by Jamie McGrath.
With 20-minutes remaining Elding was replaced by Martin Boyle and the striker won a free-kick with his first touch.
In the closing stages the home side threw everything at the Hibs defence to get back on level terms and they created several decent chances without causing Sallinger any problems.
Endrit Krasniqi went close with a header.
With 10-minutes remaining Joe Newell, Kanayo Megwa and Josh Campbell replaced Josh Mulligan, Adam Mayor and Passlack.
A McGrath free-kick was headed straight at the keeper.
In the 89th minute Salinger produced a superb close range save to keep Hibs in front.
The hosts continued to press forward in the four added minutes but the Hibs defence held firm and the tie ended all square with the Scottish side winning 2-1 on aggregate.
Shkendija: Ramani, Trumci, Manev, Meliqi, Dimoski, Freitas, Islami, Tamba, Zejnullai, Kryeziu, Ndzengue.
Substitutes: Amzai, R Ceka, Ibraimi, Krasniqi, Murati, N Ceka, Krstevski, Djeladini, Isa, Abdurahmani, Ramadani.
Hibs: Sallinger, O’Hora, Kerr, Obita, Passlack, Chaiwa, Mulligan, Mayor, Elding, Wright, Lowe.
Substitutes: Smith, Owens, Boyle, Newell, Iredale, McGrath, Klidje, Suto, Molotnikov, Megwa, Campbell, Abdulai.
