Pro ShotsPasveer stopped five penalties in the deciding series
NOS Voetbal•donderdag, 23:17
Ajax has reached the final round of the Europa League qualification with great difficulty. At home, the Amsterdammers lost 1-0 to Panathinaikos and therefore a penalty shootout had to decide the match. Last week, Ajax had won 1-0 in Athens.
Ajax took the penalties better and therefore qualified for the play-offs, where Ajax will play against the Polish national champion Jagiellonia Bialystok.
Remko Pasveer emerged as the hero of Amsterdam by saving no less than five penalties in the decisive series, which lasted 34 penalties. Anton Gaaei eventually shot the winning penalty into the net.
Recovered after weak start
After a weak first quarter, in which Ajax was sloppy and Panathinaikos the most threatening, the Amsterdammers took control of the match. During the first half, the Greek goal came under increasing attack, thanks in part to some clever variations on free kicks and corners.
Chuba Akpom in particular frequently found himself in scoring positions. The Englishman’s header was cleared off the line, his shot went over and many attempts were stopped. Bartlomiej Dragowski, the Polish goalkeeper of Panathinaikos, played a great game and made one save after another.
ANPA header from Akpom is cleared off the line
The best action of the first half, and perhaps the match, was made by Steven Berghuis. The 32-year-old veteran picked up the ball after more than half an hour on the right flank, to make a move towards the centre. His left-footed shot was then hard, but ended up on the crossbar.
Doomsday scenario due to late goal against
In the second half Ajax remained the better team, without being able to express this in the score. The Amsterdammers tried, but kept running into the outstanding goalkeeper Dragowski.
A doomsday scenario then unfolded just before time. In the 89th minute, a scramble arose in the Ajax penalty area, with substitute Panathinaikos player Tetê finally getting his foot to the ball and scoring. A minute earlier, Ajax player Mika Godts had shot a great chance against the post.
The goal meant that the score was 1-1 after two matches and extra time was therefore necessary. No goals were scored in that match, so penalties had to decide the outcome.
ANPGodts is disappointed after his mistake just before the end
That penalty series became a thriller, because Ajax and Panathinaikos kept each other in perfect balance for a long time. Both teams took no less than seventeen (!) penalties, but Ajax eventually came out on top.
Bertrand Traoré and Brian Brobbey caused a stir by shooting (well) over, while Remko Pasveer was the big hero. He made five saves during the penalty series and always put Ajax in a favourable starting position.
The final score of 13-12 proved to be a historic high. Only one penalty shootout in Europe has ever had a higher score: 14-13 between Gzira United and Glentoran in July 2023.