Hibs were unceremoniously dumped out of the Europa League after a 3-2 defeat to Maribor saw them lose their third qualifying round tie 6-2 on aggregate.
Already trailing 3-0 after the first leg in Slovenia, the Easter Road side never looked like staging a famous comeback after conceding the opening goal to visiting skipper Marcos Tavares after only 19 minutes.
Dutch midfielder Edwin de Graaf at least pulled the SPL outfit level on the night when he deflected in Anthony Stokes' shot shortly after the interval and also netted a late consolation in the closing seconds. However, by then any faint hopes of progression had been dashed as Maribor restored their lead through Dejan Mezga's penalty and extended it with Tavares' second of the night and third of the tie.
Despite all their early pressing the home side's task got even bigger with only 19 minutes gone. Sinisa Andelkovic's corner from the right was met by Mezga and skipper Tavares claimed the final touch to leave Hibs needing five to progress.
The game was now realistically beyond them but Derek Riordan came close to giving the home fans something to shout about within three minutes of the start of the second half, only to see Pridigar beat away his 25-yard volley.
And they did then produce an equaliser on the night in the 54th minute. Stokes turned inside onto his left foot on the edge of the box and his shot was deflected in by the body of De Graaf.
Stokes had a shot saved and then two efforts blocked before the home side conceded a 66th-minute penalty. Mezga waltzed past Kevin McBride on the bye-line before going down under the Hibs midfielder's challenge from behind.
The midfielder picked himself up and calmly sent Smith the wrong way from the spot to restore the visitors' advantage.
And they moved further ahead with 17 minutes remaining courtesy of a lightning counter-attack. Josip Ilicic crossed for Dalibor Volas on the break and his header back across the box was hammered high into the roof of the net by the excellent Tavares.
De Graaf repeated that feat in the 89th minute when Colin Nish headed substitute David Wotherspoon's cross back to him 10 yards out but it was small consolation for the home side.
Source: PA
