Partizan knocked out of Europa League qualifiers by AEK Larnaca after penalties

BELGRADE - Serbia's runner-up football champions Partizan Belgrade are out of the UEFA Europa League qualifiers after losing 6-5 on penalties to Cypriot side AEK Larnaca in the second leg at home on Thursday evening.

AEK won the first leg 1-0.

In front of more than 23,000 enthusiastic home supporters, Partizan took the lead in the 69th minute through Ognjen Ugresic.

Partizan goalkeeper Marko Milosevic saved a penalty by AEK's Karol Angielski five minutes into second-half injury time, so the match went into extra time.

Pere Pons equalised for AEK in the 104th minute, but Partizan's substitute striker Dusan Jovanovic scored in the 118th minute to make it 2-1 in the second leg, and 2-2 on aggregate.

Milosevic saved two spot kicks in the penalty shootout, but Partizan's Milan Roganovic, Aldo Kalulu and Bogdan Kostic all missed their penalty shots, sending AEK to the second round of the qualifiers.

Partizan will now go to the UEFA Conference League, where they will face Ukrainian side Oleksandriya in the competition's second qualifying round next Thursday.