Hibernian’s Under-19s ran rampant under the lights of Easter Road, recording a 4-0 win over Kosovan opposition, FC 2 Korriku. Declan Tumblety reports from Easter Road
Darren McGregor’s youth side entered Europe’s premier competition at the second round, thanks to goals from Rudi Molotkinov, Jamie McMurdo, Luke Davidson and Lewis Gillie, now having one foot in the third round.
First Half
Hibs enjoyed large chunks of possession in the first half with a majority of the play running through midfielder Luke Davidson and winger Logan Jiminez. After controlling the ball for the opening 10 minutes, the first chance of the game fell to right back, Jamie McMurdo, whose volley was saved.
One minute later, Hibs had the lead through Rudi Molotkinov. Deployed out of position tonight, Darren McGregor opted for Molotkinov to lead the line and wasted little time to find the bottom corner and fire Hibs ahead. It was apparent that Molotkinov was one of the more experienced players on the pitch. For most of the team, it was their first competitive match at Easter Road, but it’s an occasion the now Scotland Under-21 will be used to. He’d then be forced off with an injury minutes later, but McGregor insists the change was purely precautionary.
After the opener, the match quietened down slightly with Hibs continuing to control large portions of the ball. Korriku would slowly grow into the game but failed to register a shot within the opening half hour. Hibs would then be left wondering how they weren’t 2-0 up at the break after a well worked free kick was played through Dean Clelland, who will feel he should have done better in front of goal. Clelland would then have the ball in the net on the stroke of halftime, but would instead find the goal disallowed and his name in the book for a foul on Korriku’s goalkeeper.
Second Half
The visitors would come out stronger after the interval, but they only managed to get off a few shots from outside the area that never troubled Ryan Mallon in the Hibs goal. The first major chance of the second half would again fall to Dean Clelland, who, like the rest of the team, just seemed to have lacked end product.
Hibs’ problems infront of goal would however quickly evaporate when Jamie McMurdo latched onto a great ball across the box, and the fullback displayed a striker’s finish to double Hibs’ lead on the 67th minute. It could’ve then been a quick fire double for McMurdo, but his shot across the box forced a great save from Hasimi. Molotkinov’s replacement, Josh MacDonald, would narrowly miss out on the rebound before Korriku managed to clear the danger.
The third and fourth goals would quickly follow, with Luke Davidson latching onto a loose pass, carrying the ball into the box and finishing his move off with a strike into the far corner. Lewis Gillie would add another for the hosts, heading in from a McMurdo free kick to round off a fantastic performance for Hibs.
MOTM
The Man of the Match award could’ve went to a number of candidates- the midfield trio of Luke Davidson, Josh MacDonald and Zach Bruce were all brilliant and Jamie McMurdo was incredibly dangerous from fullback, registering a goal and assist. Davidson was rightfully given the award, however, for his technical performance in the middle. At only 17, he could be one for Hibs fans to look out for, and one the club will want to keep around.
Post Match- Press Interviews
Lewis Gillie
It wasn’t Gillie’s first time playing at Easter Road, making his first team debut last season aged just 16, but mentioned how much he enjoyed tonight’s occasion with his teammates. He said: “It’s just amazing. Like honestly, there’s nothing better than it. It’s been a dream for most people to play at Easter Road and we’re making it a reality so hopefully, we can go do more, play more out there.” Gillie would also describe the feeling of his first Easter Road goal as “surreal”.
Darren McGregor
McGregor started his press conference by describing his team’s performance as “absolutely tremendous” and that his players should be proud of themselves. McGregor said “I said before the game started, as long as you can go through the door at night and your mum and dad are proud of your performance, that’s what you should aim for and I think every single one of them have done that”.
“I’ve touched on it before, not in one slightest way being arrogant, but I think that group there proven the best team in Scotland, so it’s just on the European stage, ‘can I handle it?’. But, I would back my lads against anybody.”
Hibs will take a four-goal advantage to Kosovo in the second leg in two weeks time and Darren McGregor can have a lot of confidence in his side following an incredibly complete performance from his league-winning side. Should Hibs advance, they’ll progress to the third round of the Youth League, victory there would see them advance to the round of 32. There, they’d be one of the 10 teams in the champions path, joining the top 22 of the league phase- comprised of the youth teams of this season’s Champions League line-up.
