The shoot out saw 34 spot kicks taken
Yesterday evening Ajax and Panathinaikos took part in a 25-minute long penalty shootout 13-12 against Panathinaikos to qualify for the group stages of the Europa League.
After winning the first leg 1-0 away in Athens, the club from Amsterdam lost 1-0 at home to leave the fixture tied 1-1 on aggregate after an 89th minute goal from the visitors.
Still the deadlock could not be broken through extra time leading to a penalty shootout to separate the teams.
Even during penalties there was nothing to split the two teams with multiple players taking penalties twice.
Star striker Brian Brobbey stepped up twice, missing both times.
After 16 penalties the score was somehow and incredible 5-5 while not a single penalty was missed for 14 spot kicks with both keepers, Remko Pasveer and Bartlomiej Dragowski, converting.
Brobbey fell to his knees upon missing his second penalty, but his blushes were spared by country man and former Feyenoord midfielder Tonny Vilhena who missed a second penalty too.
Captain Jordan Henderson had already scored his first penalty and was set to take the decisive spot kick, however allowed Anton Gaaei to take and hit home for the win.
Crazy celebrations ensued after the winning penalty.
When questioned about his saves, hero goalkeeper Remko Pasveer said: “That’s my job, right?”
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Henderson talked about leaving Anton Gaeei the chance to take the winning penalty: “After Brian Brobbey missed, Anton Gaaei said to me: “If they score now, you can take it, but if they miss, can I take it?.
“I said ‘sure, go take the glory’. And he is probably better at penalties anyway. He deserves it, he’s a great lad.”
Through winning the dramatic shootout Ajax qualified for the Europa League while dumping their Greek opponents into the Conference League.
