Ajax secured a spot in the Europa League qualifying play-off round after defeating Panathinaikos in an epic penalty shootout that lasted 25 minutes and featured 34 spot-kicks.
The Dutch side won the shootout 13-12, despite missing several penalties, showcasing their resilience and determination.
Ajax goalkeeper Remko Pasveer was the hero of the night, saving five penalties and scoring one himself.
Defender Anton Gaaei scored the winning penalty, securing the win for Ajax. The game had ended 1-0 in favor of Panathinaikos, leveling the tie at 1-1, before going to extra time and eventually the penalty shootout.
The match was intense, with both teams creating scoring opportunities. However, it was Panathinaikos who broke the deadlock in the 89th minute, with Tete scoring the goal.
Despite this, Ajax remained calm and focused, taking the game to extra time.
The penalty shootout was a nail-biting affair, with both teams converting and missing penalties. However, Pasveer’s heroics in goal and Gaaei’s winning penalty ensured that Ajax emerged victorious.
The win sets up a two-legged play-off against Polish side Jagiellonia Bialystok for Ajax. Despite the challenges, Ajax manager Francesco Farioli praised his team’s spirit and dedication, saying “The spirit and dedication of the team were amazing tonight. We are not perfect, but we can’t say that the players didn’t give it their all.”
This victory marks an important step for Ajax in their Europa League campaign, and they will look to build on this momentum in their upcoming matches.
