Panathinaikos secured qualification for the UEFA Europa Conference League phase after beating Czech side Hradec Kralove 2-1 following extra time on Thursday. Nigerian forward Cyriel Dessers scored a 125th-minute penalty after the match ended 1-1 in regular time.
Dessers came off the bench in the second half to score both goals for the Greek club. He opened the scoring with a header in the 72nd minute before Hradec Kralove midfielder Vladimir Darida equalized in the 92nd minute to send the tie into an additional 30 minutes.
Panathinaikos, managed by Jacob Neestrup, entered the match seeking a place in the European group stage. Hradec Kralove, coached by David Horejs, created early pressure on home soil before the visitors took control in the second half.
Hradec Kralove threatened early from a third-minute throw-in that created a major scoring opportunity. Panathinaikos defender Georgios Katris cleared the ball off the line to prevent an early goal. The host team came close again in the 15th minute with a double chance, but goalkeeper Pena made two saves to deny Mick van Buren.
Both managers were forced to make early changes due to injuries. Hradec Kralove forward Michalik was forced off in the 21st minute and replaced by Adam Vlkanova. Panathinaikos midfielder Pedro Chirivella left the pitch in the 28th minute, with Kontouris coming on in his place.
First-Half Opportunities and Second-Half Opener
Panathinaikos improved after the half-hour mark and created two scoring chances late in the first half. Levi Garcia saw a left-footed strike pass just wide of the post in the 40th minute. Garcia missed another chance three minutes into first-half stoppage time when he failed to connect cleanly with a cross from Giorgos Kyriakopoulos.
Neestrup adjusted his team at the break, and Panathinaikos controlled more of the play in the second half. Kontouris sent a shot wide in the 59th minute, and substitute Antino saw his 69th-minute strike saved by Hradec Kralove goalkeeper Zadrazil.
The opening goal arrived in the 72nd minute when Taborda delivered a free kick into the penalty box. Dessers met the ball with a header into the net to put Panathinaikos ahead 0-1. Dessers had an opportunity to double the lead in the 81st minute, but his attempt went wide.
Hradec Kralove took advantage of the missed chance in second-half stoppage time. Darida fired a shot inside the penalty area in the 92nd minute to make it 1-1 and force extra time.
Extra Time Drama and Late VAR Penalty
The Czech side carried momentum into extra time and nearly took the lead in the 105th minute. Daniel Trubac hit a powerful shot, but Pena reacted with a save to keep Panathinaikos level.
Panathinaikos almost restored their lead in the 116th minute when substitute Yagousis broke through one-on-one against Zadrazil, but the Hradec Kralove goalkeeper saved the shot. With a penalty shootout approaching, the match turned in the 120th minute when Dessers was brought down in the box by Neto.
The Video Assistant Referee alerted the match referee to review the foul at the pitchside monitor. The referee awarded a penalty kick, which Dessers converted in the 125th minute to seal the 1-2 victory and secure qualification for Panathinaikos.
Hradec Kralove started Zadrazil in goal alongside Urinkat, Cihak, Cech, and Ludvicek, who was replaced by Valenta in the 77th minute. Darida and Danek started in midfield, with Danek replaced by Trubac in the 77th minute. Horak and Oumar played alongside Danek, with Oumar replaced by Sloncik in the 60th minute. Van Buren partnered Michalik in attack, before Michalik was replaced by Vlkanova in the 21st minute and Neto entered in the 119th minute.
Panathinaikos fielded Pena in goal behind Katris, De Vrij, Van Drongelen, and Kyriakopoulos, with Katris replaced by Calabria in the 60th minute. Pellistri was replaced by Antino in the 60th minute, joining Camara, Chirivella, and Taborda in midfield. Levi Garcia made way for Palmer-Brown in the 82nd minute, while Tetteh was replaced by Dessers in the 60th minute.
