Gent Stun Hibs 3-2 in Conference League Playoff Thriller

Easter Road erupted in disbelief as Gent stole a 3-2 victory with a 91st-minute own goal from Miguel Chaiwa in a Europa Conference League playoff round thriller that saw the Belgian side come from behind twice. The result leaves Hibernian’s European dreams hanging by a thread after a match that swung violently on momentum, VAR heartbreak, and a dramatic red card.

Hibs’ Early Agony Sets the Tone

The Scots thought they’d taken the lead when Martin Boyle bundled home on 47 minutes, only for VAR to chalk it off for handball after a torturous wait. Gent punished them instantly – Josué Vergara firing low past Raphael Sallinger on 39 minutes after Tibe De Vlieger’s threaded pass sliced Hibs open. The Belgian midfielder then earned a yellow five minutes later for hauling down Josh Mulligan, the first of five cautions in a match simmering with tension.

Hibernian Fight Back Through Kerr

David Gray’s men roared back after the break. Jason Kerr powered home Jamie McGrath’s 56th-minute corner to level, sending the Leith faithful into raptures. The momentum shift was visceral – Hibs suddenly first to every loose ball, Passlack and Mulligan overloading Gent’s right flank. Their reward came on 77 minutes when Passlack arrowed Mulligan’s cutback into the bottom corner, the German’s first goal for the club sparking pandemonium in the Famous Five Stand.

Gent’s Clinical Finish Breaks Scottish Hearts

But Gent’s superior game management told. Former Brighton defender Christian Burgess headed home Lucas Benes’ 84th-minute free-kick against the run of play. Then disaster struck for Chaiwa – already booked for a cynical foul on Momodou Sonko, the Zambian teenager diverted Ibrahima Cisse’s cross past his own keeper in stoppage time before seeing red for a wild lunge seconds later. The stats told the cruel story: identical shots (13 each) and xG, but Gent’s 56% possession and 90% pass accuracy proving decisive when it mattered.

What This Means for Both Sides

For Hibs, this was a hammer blow. That elusive first European group stage since 2005-06 now requires an epic turnaround in next week’s second leg at the Ghelamco Arena – a ground where Gent haven’t lost in Europe since 2021. Rik De Mil’s side showed the streetwise edge of a team who reached last season’s quarter-finals, with veteran Burgess leading a back three that restricted Boyle to just 20 touches before his substitution. The Belgians’ counter-attacking ruthlessness – scoring from all three shots on target in the second half – makes them firm favorites to progress.