In a dramatic encounter that stretched to an unprecedented 34 penalties, Ajax emerged victorious over Panathinaikos in the UEFA Europa League third qualifying round, securing their passage to the play-off stage.
The Dutch side initially fell behind after a 1-0 away loss in Amsterdam, but they fought back valiantly, with Tete levelling the aggregate score in the 89th minute. After a goalless extra time period, the tie was decided in a nerve-wracking penalty shootout that lasted a gruelling 25 minutes.
Ajax goalkeeper Remko Pasveer, at the age of 40, proved to be the hero of the night, saving an astonishing five penalties while also converting one of his own. Defender Anton Gaaei stepped up to score the winning kick, securing a hard-fought victory for his side.
Despite the heroics of Pasveer, the match was a rollercoaster of emotions for Ajax. Netherlands striker Brian Brobbey missed two spot-kicks, with Bertrand Traore and Youri Baas also failing to convert. Despite these setbacks, the team demonstrated remarkable resilience, ultimately overcoming the challenges to advance.
Ajax manager Francesco Farioli lauded his team's performance, highlighting their spirit and dedication. "It was an incredible shootout," he said. "The players gave everything they had, and we are not perfect, but we can't fault their effort."
The 13-12 victory marks the second-highest scoring penalty shootout in European competition history, narrowly trailing Glentoran's 14-13 loss to Gzira United in last season's Conference League qualifying.
The win sets up a two-legged play-off against Polish outfit Jagiellonia Bialystok later this month, as Ajax strive to qualify for the group stages of the Europa League. With their incredible resilience and unwavering determination, the Dutch side will be hoping to overcome this final hurdle and secure a place in Europe's premier club competition.
