Dzeko sends Roma through
Roma Shakhtar 1 0
Roma overcame a poor firsthalf performance to beat Shakhtar Donetsk 1-0 yesterday 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.
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 as Dzeko latched on to Kevin Strootman's ball over the top and slotted it into the bottom right corner.
That gave Roma confidence and it almost doubled its lead 10 minutes later but Dzeko fired narrowly wide.
A small brawl between players broke out 10 minutes before full time after Facundo Ferreyra pushed a ballboy over the advertising boards. Ferreyra was shown a yellow card. Championship Yesterday Dumbarton-Brechin .......................... 1-0 Dunfermline-Inverness ..................... 1-0 Livingston-Morton ............................ 1-1 Queen of South-Dundee Utd ............ 1-3
League One Yesterday Airdrie-Stranrear .............................. 2-1 Albion Rovers-Queens Park .............. 1-1 Alloa-East Fife ................................... 1-2 Forfar Ath-Raith R ............................. 2-1
League Two Yesterday Berwick-Stirling ................................. 0-1 Clyde-Elgin City ................................. 1-0 Edinburgh-Cowdenbeath ................. 1-1 Montrose-Annan Ath ........................ 2-1 Peterhead-Stenhousmuir ................. 1-2