Logan Jimenez and his Hibernian Under-19 teammates made a triumphant return to CAS Elite Youth League action, grinding out a 1-0 victory over Kilmarnock at Rugby Park.
The victory was particularly sweet for the Edinburgh side, who were competing in their first league fixture in over three months. Fixture congestion had kept the young Hibees away from domestic league duties since mid-October, with the squad instead navigating a grueling schedule across the UEFA Youth League, the Scottish Youth Cup, and the KDM Evolution Trophy.
Despite the extended layoff from league play, Hibs showed little sign of fatigue in East Ayrshire. In a tightly contested affair, Jay Gallacher proved to be the difference-maker, netting the only goal of the game to ensure all three points headed back to Easter Road.
Jimenez, the Bermudian forward who has become a key figure in the Hibs youth setup, was instrumental in stretching the Kilmarnock defense throughout the ninety minutes. His link-up play and physical presence allowed the visitors to maintain pressure during a cagey second half where Kilmarnock threatened an equalizer.
The hiatus from the CAS Elite Youth League was a direct result of Hibs' success on multiple fronts. Their continental journey in the UEFA Youth League included a dominant 4-0 aggregate win over Kosovo’s 2 Korriku before a spirited narrow exit at the hands of Dynamo Kyiv in December.
With the midweek victory, Hibernian move back into the upper echelons of the CAS Elite Youth League standings. The challenge for Jimenez and his teammates now lies in managing their games in hand as they look to reel in current pacesetters Celtic and Rangers.
Hibs will have little time to rest, however, as they prepare for a swift turnaround with another league fixture scheduled for the coming weekend. For Jimenez, the priority remains clear: maintaining the domestic form that has kept Hibs in the hunt for a historic youth treble.
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