Dzeko takes Roma past Donetsk

Rome, March 14: Roma overcame a poor first-half performance to beat Shakhtar Donetsk 1-0 on Tuesday and reach the quarterfinals of the Champions League on the away goals rule after a 2-2 aggregate score.

Edin Dzeko scored the only goal of the match early in the second half as Roma became the second Italian side to progress to the final eight after Juventus beat Tottenham last week.

Shakhtar led 2-1 from the first leg and would have advanced with a draw, but its hopes of an equalizer diminished 11 minutes from time when defender Ivan Ordets was sent off for hauling down Dzeko.

It is the first time in 11 years that two Italian teams are in the quarterfinals, with the draw taking place on Friday.

In the night’s other match, Sevilla knocked out Manchester United with a 2-1 win at Old Trafford to go through with the same score on aggregate. Substitute Wissam Ben Yedder scored twice after coming on in the second half, with Romelu Lukaku pulling a goal back for United. Roma hadn’t conceded in its three Champions League matches at the Stadio Olimpico this season but nearly netted an own goal when Alessandro Florenzi tried to head clear a free kick but sent the ball flashing across the face of goal.

Shakhtar dominated possession early and Taison almost scored but his effort flew narrowly over the crossbar.

But Roma broke the deadlock seven minutes after the break through Dzeko. That gave Roma confidence and it almost doubled its lead 10 minutes later but Dzeko fired narrowly wide.

A small scuffle between players broke out 10 minutes before full time after Facundo Ferreyra pushed a ballboy over the advertising boards when trying to retrieve the ball from him.