UEFA Cup - Intertoto woe for Hibs

Eurosport - Sat, 12 Jul 23:08:00 2008

Hibernian's Europe adventure proved a short-lived experience as they were knocked out of the Intertoto Cup second round by Swedes Elfsborg.

FOOTBALL IF Elfsborg Mathias Floren - 0

Trailing 2-0 from last weekend's first leg at Easter Road, Mixu Paatelainen's men were unable to retrieve the deficit on the artificial surface at the Boras Arena before just 3,523 supporters.

Championship-chasing Elfsborg, who have lost just two of their opening 13 league games to sit second in the Allsvenkan, again showed their class to run out comfortable victors.

Hibs, who have not even finished a third week of pre-season, were again ring-rusty as they failed to make it third time lucky in the Intertoto Cup, after previously failing in 2004 and 2006.

The first goal was key and left-back Mathias Floren (pictured) grabbed it cheaply on 20 minutes to leave Hibs with too big a mountain to climb.

Floren struck a shot from 20 yards that deflected off Chris Hogg and eluded Andy McNeil in nets.

Hibs went close through Alan O'Brien and Dean Shiels but the hosts always looked threatening and wrapped up the tie and the victory 11 minutes from time.

Emir Bajrami's drilled shot into the top right corner from the edge of the box left McNeil with no chance.

Despite their failure to secure a backdoor entry into the UEFA Cup, Paatelainen feels his side will benefit in the long run from competitive pre-season matches, as well as gaining European experience.

Sporting Life / Eurosport

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  1. Edinburgh Hibernian are utter rubbish,and they were Scotland's so called 'representatives' in the Intertoto Cup?.I think not,and they are not one of the better teams in the SPL either.I would think even Heart of Midlothian,bad as they are,would have been a better proposition than dire Hibs,as they would almost certainly have had a better result.Managerless,and with no immediate prospect for the position after being badly treated by the Russian numpty who is supposed to be their Chairman,the much maligned Frail would have been a better prospect.Edinburgh is supposed to be the Capital of Scotland,yet for over one hundred years,the two Glasgow Teams,giants in comparison,have been by far Scottish Footballs envoys in Europe,and with Rangers reaching,although beaten,EUFA Cup finalists,what price Hibs or Hearts this season also?.Motherwell beat both Edinburgh teams by a mile in the season just ended and still they can't compete against the other 'runners-up' in the SPL.This season,Hearts or Hibs?,NO chance whatsoever in winning any of the Cups or even finishing in third/fourth place in the SPL.Edinburgh?~move over and make Glasgow Scotland's Capital Cty.haggis-n-neeps

    From Ibrox IS Heaven, on Sun 13 Jul 8:51PM
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