Hibs Stun Inter d'Escaldes with an Astonishing 6-1 Victory: Martin Boyle Shines with First-Half Brace After Andorra Setback

Martin Boyle marked his return to action with a remarkable goalscoring performance, helping Hibernian recover from their unexpected loss in Andorra. The team secured a comfortable 6-1 triumph over Inter d'Escaldes, ensuring their progress to the next round of the Europa Conference League. Boyle, in his first game in nine months, wasted no time, scoring two goals in the early stages and contributing significantly to Hibs' 7-3 aggregate win at Easter Road.

Josh Campbell scored twice for Hibs, while Christian Doidge and Elie Youan also found the net. This victory served as a response to the disgruntled fans who had harshly criticized the team after their defeat last week. In spite of facing injuries to both goalkeepers, Hibs managed to advance and will face either Swiss side Luzern or Swedish team Djurgarden in the next round.

Boyle, who had been out of action since late October due to a knee injury, made a surprising return to the team. Despite six changes from the previous match, the Australia international was immediately included in the starting line-up. Manager Lee Johnson had initially taken Boyle to Andorra for sideline support, but after a 45-minute appearance in a friendly against Blackpool on Saturday, he was immediately drafted into the starting eleven.

In just 10 minutes, the winger left a lasting impression by seizing Joe Newell's pass beyond the full-back, maneuvering around the charging goalkeeper, and calmly slotting the ball into the unguarded net.

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Lee Johnson went into the game under increased pressure following Hibs' defeat in Andorra last week

Hibs were dealt a setback as Jojo Wollacott's debut was abruptly ended due to a thigh issue, when he had come on to replace the injured David Marshall during warm-up. Max Boruc then made his own debut as a replacement.

In the middle of the half, Hibs extended their advantage when an unmarked Boyle skillfully headed home Newell's cross from a distance of seven yards.

Doidge scored an impressive overhead kick in the 29th minute, capitalizing on Will Fish's header hitting the bar. The momentum continued after the break, with Campbell taking advantage of a hesitant defense to score a header from Doidge's flick-on. In the 61st minute, the midfielder tapped in his second goal after a skillful display on the wing by Youan.

Youan quickly launched the ball into the net, increasing the score to six. Hibs had multiple opportunities to enhance their lead, leaving their supporters questioning how they had performed so poorly in the previous leg. Substitute Dylan Levitt's powerful long-range volley was skillfully saved, and Doidge's goal was disallowed due to an offside call.

In the 83rd minute, there was a sudden reminder of the opponents' talent as Angel De La Torre executed a remarkable finish, placing the ball into the top corner for a consolation goal. This impressive display prompted applause from a portion of the 13,840 spectators.

It was Inter's first effort on target of the night but Boruc went on to make a decent late stop with his foot.