Beitar Jerusalem are through to the next Conference League qualifying round after surviving a dramatic night against AEK Larnaca in Ploiești, winning a penalty shootout 4–3 once the tie finished 3–3 on aggregate.
Omer Atzili was Beitar's hero in normal time, converting a penalty in first-half stoppage time and striking again on 87 minutes. But AEK, led by a Hrvoje Miličević double (a 26th-minute penalty and a 52nd-minute finish), forced the tie level and a late goal took the match to extra time and, ultimately, spot-kicks, with the 90-minute leg ending 2–3.
In the shootout Beitar were flawless, converting all four of their attempts, while AEK saw two efforts saved by the Beitar goalkeeper — enough to settle it 4–3 in the Israeli side's favour.
It is a hard-earned European survival for Beitar, whose supporters had travelled in numbers to Romania for the neutral-ground decider. They now advance to the next round of qualifying.
