Maltese champions Hamrun Spartans reached the second qualifying round of the Uefa Champions League for the first time on Tuesday – but they did it the hard way in a tie that went to extra time and then featured 28 penalties in a shootout.
The Spartans went into the second leg 2-0 down to Lithuanian champions Zalgiris but scored twice in six first-half minutes to draw level.
Zalgiris had defender Vasilije Radenovic sent off in the 114th minute for a second bookable offence before the real drama of the evening ensued.
After a pair of misses, the teams were locked at 4-4 and the shootout went to sudden death.
Both goalkeepers – Spartans captain Henry Bonello and Zalgiris’ Carlos Olses – scored their penalties.
Zalgiris midfielder Ebenezer Ofori missed the crucial spot-kick, with Jovan Cadenovic scoring the winner to give Spartans a 11-10 victory.
Malta international Bonello, 36, became the hero for Spartans by saving two spot-kicks, while Olses saved one and four more penalties missed the target.
The reward for Spartans is a tie against Ukrainian champions Dynamo Kyiv for a place in the third round of qualifying.
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