Ajax Amsterdam and Panathinaikos set Uefa record with 34 shoot-out penalty kicks
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Ajax Amsterdam celebrate after winning a hard-earned penalty shoot-out 13-12 against Panathinaikos in the Europa League third qualifying round.
EPA-EFE
AMSTERDAM – Penalty shoot-outs are usually a nerve-racking affair, and it is rare that it ends up dragging on for so long that some players end up having to take a second spot kick.
But that was exactly what happened on Aug 15.
It took 34 penalties for Ajax Amsterdam to beat Panathinaikos 13-12 in a marathon shoot-out, setting a Uefa competition record after their Europa League third qualifying round tie ended 1-1 over two legs and extra time.
Ajax, who won 1-0 at Panathinaikos last week, conceded in the 89th minute in Amsterdam, leading to the shoot-out that broke the previous record of 32 attempts at the European Under-21 Championship semi-final in 2007, when the Netherlands beat England 13-12.
The world record for the longest shoot-out was set in May when Israeli third-tier clubs Dimona and Shimshon Tel Aviv took 56 penalties to resolve their semi-final promotion play-off tie.
Ajax goalkeeper Remko Pasveer made five saves and scored on his own attempt to help the hosts win the shoot-out against their Greek opponents, as Dutch international Brian Brobbey missed two penalties.
“Five is quite a lot, yes. I save a penalty every now and then, but I don’t think you often experience something as crazy as this,” Pasveer said.
“Every time I thought we would do it. Brobbey behind the ball, we will do it. But he missed, while he always scores during training.”
Defender Anton Gaaei ultimately delivered the winning penalty for Ajax. The Dutch club will now face Polish side Jagiellonia Bialystok in the play-off round later in August.
Ajax coach Francesco Farioli admitted he too could not believe the incredible situation, watching on from the dugout.
“This was crazy,” he said. “It is impossible to simulate this emotion and context, you can practise penalties but you never come close to this scenario.
“Remko made five insane saves. During training, Remko had practised taking penalties, but he missed a few. Today, I had more confidence that he would stop them than that he would score.”
On the winning kick, he added: “Anton took responsibility. Last season was difficult for him, but now he is gradually regaining his self-confidence.
“He doesn’t ask for anything and is there every day. He deserved this.” REUTERS
