Shkendija Tetovo and Hibernian played out a goalless draw in the third qualifying round of the UEFA Conference League on Wednesday evening. The visitors had won 2-1 away from home just six days earlier, but the hosts held firm at the National Arena Toše Proeski. The result leaves both sides in a position to negotiate the next stage, though nothing is decided yet.
Hibernian started brighter and had the better chances. Three shots found the target compared to Shkendija's one, yet the visitors could not find the net. The hosts dominated possession at 58 per cent but struggled to convert their 110 attacks into meaningful opportunities. By then, the pattern was set: Shkendija controlling the ball, Hibernian waiting for something to happen.
The disciplinary record told a different story. Five yellow cards came in the final four minutes alone, from the 83rd minute through to the 87th. Miguel Changa Chaiwa picked up two bookings, while Rafael Freitas, Fabrice Tamba, and Aleksander Trumci had already been cautioned earlier. The match grew heated as the clock ran down, and the referee had his hands full.
Substitutions told the story of a game running out of ideas. Shkendija brought on A. Zejnullai in the 64th minute, then A. Meljichi in the 85th. Hibernian made more changes, bringing on C. Wright, O. Elding, F. Passlack, J. Mulligan, and A. Mayor between the 63rd and 82nd minutes. The manager turned to the kids, but the result remained unchanged.
What the numbers do not capture is the rhythm of the match. Shkendija had 10 shots off target and only one on, while Hibernian managed three on target from just one off target. Many shots with no goals means chances went begging. The line has barely moved for either side at this stage.
Both teams come into this fixture with mixed recent form. Shkendija beat Vardar 2-0 on Monday but lost to Hibernian away last week. Hibernian won 2-1 against Rangers on their most recent outing but have shown vulnerability in other matches. Cup football has its own rules, and neither side can afford to take anything for granted.