Hibernian held firm in the Skopje heat to grind out a goalless draw with Shkendija and set up a showdown with Belgian side Gent in the Conference League play-off.
The Leith men arrived in North Macedonia protecting a 2-1 lead from the first leg of their third qualifying round tie after Warren O’Hora’s late winner at Easter Road.
And that goal from the Irish defender ultimately proved decisive as there was no further scoring in a tightly-contested second leg in the Todor Proeski National Arena.
After withstanding some late pressure to eliminate a Shkendija side that reached the knockout phase play-off round of last year’s Conference League, the Hibs players celebrated in front of their 350 jubilant supporters who had travelled to the Balkans.
Delighted Hibs boss David Gray said: ‘Don’t underestimate how big an achievement that is against a really good side.
‘It wasn’t a brilliant game, but bodies on the line and our players stepped up. We found a way to get through and I’m delighted for the players — they thoroughly deserve it.
Hibs players applaud the travelling fans after keeping a vital clean sheet in North Macedonia
‘First half there wasn’t much in it, it was a flat game. Our shape was good and we restricted them to very little.
‘Over the course of the two legs, I don’t think anyone could say we don’t deserve to go through. The players have earned the right to have another go at the play-offs.
‘You see the strength of the squad with the players coming off the bench. We’ve had a brilliant start to the season. The important thing now is to recover the players, cool them down, and they can be proud of what they’ve achieved.’
Gray made four changes to the side that started Sunday’s Premiership victory away to Rangers as Owen Elding, Nathan Lowe, Felix Passlack and Callum Wright replaced Ante Suto, Thibault Klidje, Josh Campbell and Kanayo Megwa.
Shkendija were first to threaten when Almir Kryeziu sent a low shot just wide from the edge of the box.
Hibs’ first opportunity came in the 18th minute when Wright, who scored the late winner at Ibrox on Sunday, was just unable to make contact at the back post after Passlack’s corner had been flicked on by Jason Kerr.
Clear chances were scarce at both ends in the first half, although Elding and Lowe both had shots from promising positions in the box blocked by defenders.
Hibs boss David Gray was thrilled with his team’s performance as they marched on in Europe
At the other end, Kryeziu cut in from the left and fired over from 25 yards out as a low-key 45 minutes ended goalless.
The hosts started the second period on the front foot, with Fabrice Tamba firing harmlessly wide shortly before Fahd Ndzengue rasped an angled effort into the side netting after being set free in the box by Tamba.
Hibs had a golden chance to break the deadlock in the 54th minute but Lowe blasted straight at goalkeeper Ferat Ramani after Elding’s dinked pass over the top had sent the striker racing into the box.
Ramani then had to dive bravely at the feet of Elding as he tried to get on the end of Adam Mayor’s low delivery from the left before the keeper scrambled away Elding’s shot from the edge of the box.
Shkendija cranked up the pressure in the closing stages in a desperate effort to salvage the tie but Hibs’ defence were generally able to keep them at arm’s length as they closed out a 2-1 aggregate victory.
