AS Roma netted the vital goal to overcome 10-man Shakhtar Donetsk 1-0 at the iconic Stadio Olimpico on Tuesday, booking their ticket to the UEFA Champions League quarter-finals.
Match Summary
- Roma 1 – Shakhtar Donetsk 0
- Dzeko’s early shot saved by Pyatov
- Ferreyra misses a golden chance for the Miners
- Dzeko breaks the deadlock early in the second half
- Ordets receives a straight red and exits early
Despite Shakhtar Donetsk holding a 2-1 lead from the first leg, Edin Dzeko’s crucial strike in the second half swung momentum and secured Roma’s advancement via the away goals rule.
A key moment came with a straight red card for Ivan Ordets late in the game, granting Roma a numerical advantage and easing their path to the quarter-finals – a feat they’ve reached only a handful of times in their illustrious history.
Full Match Report
The home side nearly scored in the first minute, as Dzeko’s shot from the edge of the box was brilliantly stopped by goalkeeper Andriy Pyatov, following a clever assist from Radja Nainggolan.
Early tension rose when Alessandro Florenzi almost scored an own goal, heading a free-kick narrowly wide of the Roma net.
The match gained intensity mid-first half, with Pyatov denying several chances including a driven cross by Aleksandar Kolarov and a powerful strike by Taison over the bar.
An unfortunate error by Federico Fazio gifted Facundo Ferreyra a chance to score in the 33rd minute, but the striker couldn’t convert, shooting wide from a tight angle.
Before halftime, Diego Perotti had a promising opportunity but couldn’t find the target.
Just seven minutes after the break, Kevin Strootman’s clever ball released Dzeko, who calmly slotted the ball past Pyatov to put Roma ahead.
Roma pressed on, with Perotti testing Pyatov’s reflexes and Dzeko narrowly missing a curled shot from outside the box.
Dzeko continued to threaten, blazing over from a narrow left angle and nearly turning provider with a delicate through-ball to Gerson.
Shakhtar’s hopes dimmed further as Ordets was sent off for halting Dzeko’s breakaway with a foul on the edge of the box. Kolarov’s subsequent free-kick was saved, keeping the scoreline intact.
Despite Shakhtar’s desperate attempts in the final minutes, Roma held firm to clinch a narrow but vital victory.
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