Hull City’s European adventure was almost over before it had begun but thanks to Sone Aluko’s late intervention Steve Bruce’s side will now sample the play-off round of Europa League qualifying. They are now one step away from the group stages and will learn who they next face on Friday.

AS Trencin of Slovakia came close to a surprising away-goals victory but their hearts were broken after Aluko struck with 10 minutes remaining. The visitors had started looking significantly sharper and took a surprise lead after 91 seconds through Tomas Malec, although Ahmed Elmohamady equalised with a header to send the teams in level at half-time.

Aluko’s winner came after he was brought on as Hull’s final substitute and it was the Nigeria striker’s first goal in 11 months after a succession of injuries. “I honestly believe the ability to bring people off the bench is what won us the game. That’s why we have a squad,” said Bruce, who managed the striker at Birmingham in 2007. “Sone looks the best I’ve seen him in seven years physically. We all know he’s got terrific ability. Let’s hope he stays injury-free because he could be a big player for us.”

As FA Cup runners-up Hull joined in at the third qualifying round, meaning their summer holidays were cut short, and the lack of match practice was evident in the first leg in Zilina, where the home side held on for a goalless draw.

And on Thursday night Trencin, who qualified for the Europa League after finishing second in the Slovakian top flight, had already come through one tie in the competition, beating Serbian club Vojvodina over two legs.

Trencin certainly started more vibrantly and caught Hull cold with their opening goal following an incisive counter attack. A pedestrian home move broke down and the Slovakians surged forward in numbers. Frantisek Kubik escaped into space behind Robbie Brady down the right and his calm cross was fired beneath Allan McGregor by Malec.

Hull had time on their side but the away goal had made their task difficult. It almost got worse inside 10 minutes when McGregor had to beat away Jakub Holubek’s drive after Haris Hajradinovic’s free kick cut-back to the edge of the area.

Shane Long, the Ireland striker, missed a few chances in the first half and it was starting to look like one of those nights for the east Yorkshire club.His sigh of relief was shared by most in the KC Stadium when Hull’s probing finally produced an equaliser. Brady escaped down the left to produce a pinpoint cross for Elmohamady to head home their first goal in Europe. Hull finally started to click but Long’s luck showed no sign of changing.

He headed straight at Milos Volesak after another Sagbo flick, this time from Robert Snodgrass’s corner. Trencin’s advantage was slender and they started the second half looking to give themselves room to breathe.

They went close to a second when Malec laid the ball back to Hajradinovic and his deflected drive from the edge of the area squirmed narrowly wide, with McGregor beaten.

At the other end Liam Rosenior came close to scoring with his first touch but saw his side-footed effort drift the wrong side of a post. It was the introduction of Aluko that proved pivotal. Elmohamady’s deep cross was headed across goal by Snodgrass and he was on hand to volley home.

Martin Sevela, the Trencin manager, said: “For a lot of our players, it was the first experience of anything like this and I am proud that they played without fear.”