Hibernian’s Conference League hopes came to an end after a 3-3 draw with Legia Warsaw saw them knocked out of the competition 5-4 on aggregate.
Trailing 2-1 from the first leg at Easter Road, the Edinburgh outfit fell further behind in the tie in the 13th minute when Armenia midfielder Vahan Bichakhchyan drove in from the edge of the box.
However, in a sensational start to the second half in Poland, three goals in 11 minutes from defender Rocky Bushiri, captain Martin Boyle and substitute Miguel Chaiwa had Hibs 3-1 ahead and in the lead on aggregate.
Hibees sub Junior Hoilett was then shown a straight red card by referee Lawrence Visser for a tackle on Jan Ziolkowski but after looking at his monitor, the official downgraded it to a yellow.
In the third of seven added minutes, the home side summoned up the energy to level the tie again at 4-4 with a strike from Juergen Elitim.
It was heartbreak for Hibs and in the eighth minute of extra-time, Mileta Rajovic smashed the ball high into the net to take Edward Iordanescu’s side through the league phase, with Ziolkowski sent off for picking up the second of two yellow cards with six minutes remaining.
After a promising start to what would be an epic evening, Hibs conceded a rather simple goal, Bichakhchyan taking a pass from Bartosz Kapustka, and from 18 yards fired low past Jordan Smith.
The Hibees keeper made two saves from Rafal Augustyniak as the Polish side exercised a measure of control until the break.
Hibs started the second half with purpose, forcing a series of corners and from Nicky Cadden’s in-swinging delivery, Bushiri rose highest to head in from six yards, sending around 1700 Hibees fans into raptures.
However, five minutes later, Jean-Pierre Nsame, who scored at Easter Road, slipped into the Hibs box and smacked the post, the ball flying to safety.
Chaiwa and Hoilett replaced Jamie McGrath and Chris Cadden but it was Boyle who pounced inside the Legia box to drive in from 12 yards to draw the tie on aggregate.
There was more drama when Chaiwa barged his way into the Legia box with his angled-drive finding the far corner for his first Hibernian goal.
It was the stuff of dreams for the visiting supporters.
There was Hibs concern, however, when Hoilett saw red but cheers when he was handed his reprieve.
Gray’s side pushed for a fourth and Legia keeper Kacper Tobiasz saved efforts from Josh Mulligan and Kieron Bowie before Boyle sent a shot from 35 yards off the crossbar, but there was Hibs agony in added time when Elitim shot in from 12 yards to take the game into extra-time, where Rajovic put the Polish side back in control with a powerful finish.
Hibs substitute Thibault Klidje missed a great chance after the turnaround before Ziolkowski, booked earlier in the game, was sent off for a foul on Bowie, who drew a wonder-save from Tobiasz right at the end and it was not to Hibs’ night, despite a more than commendable performance.
