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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.<\/b><\/p>\n
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.<\/p>\n
Zalgiris had defender Vasilije Radenovic sent off in the 114th minute for a second bookable offence before the real drama of the evening ensued.<\/p>\n
After a pair of misses, the teams were locked at 4-4 and the shootout went to sudden death.<\/p>\n
Both goalkeepers – Spartans captain Henry Bonello and Zalgiris’ Carlos Olses – scored their penalties.<\/p>\n
Zalgiris midfielder Ebenezer Ofori missed the crucial spot-kick, with Jovan Cadenovic scoring the winner to give Spartans a 11-10 victory.<\/p>\n
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.<\/p>\n
The reward for Spartans is a tie against Ukrainian champions Dynamo Kyiv for a place in the third round of qualifying.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n