Dessers penalty decides Panathinaikos win in Prague

FC Hradec Králové 1-1 Panathinaikos FC after 90 minutes gave no hint of the drama to follow. Dessers broke the deadlock for the visitors in the 72nd minute, but Václav Darida levelled in the final moments of normal time to force extra time.

The playoff round clash turned sharply in Panathinaikos' favour during the additional period. Dessers converted a penalty in the 120th minute to put the away side ahead, and moments later FC Hradec Králové's Daniel Horejs was sent off for a second yellow card. The red card left the home team fighting an impossible battle against both a deficit and numerical disadvantage.

Dessers' brace proved enough to secure a 1-2 away victory for Panathinaikos, despite the home side's desperate attempts to find an equaliser in their depleted state. The closing moments descended into chaos, with four more yellow cards issued as both teams' frustrations boiled over. Horejs' dismissal in the 120th minute ultimately sealed the outcome.

HEADLINE: Dessers penalty ends Prague stalemate for Panathinaikos

TEASER: Panathinaikos FC defeated FC Hradec Králové 1-2 in an extra-time thriller in the Conference League playoff round, with Cyiel Dessers scoring the decisive penalty.

RECAP: A cagey first 70 minutes exploded into life when Cyiel Dessers opened the scoring for Panathinaikos in the 72nd minute. His breakthrough looked like it might send the visitors through, but Václav Darida had other ideas, striking in the 90th minute to keep FC Hradec Králové alive and force the match to extra time.

The decisive moment came in the 120th minute when Dessers stepped up to convert a penalty, putting Panathinaikos ahead 1-2. The away side's advantage was almost immediate. Within the same minute, FC Hradec Králové's Daniel Horejs received a second yellow card and was sent off, leaving his team a man down with no time to recover. Four additional yellow cards were brandished in those frantic closing moments as tempers frayed, but the scoreline remained unchanged. Panathinaikos held firm to secure their 1-2 away victory in the playoff round.