Roma sends Barcelona packing
MANCHESTER: Roma sent favourites Barcelona crashing out of the Champions League with a sensational 30 win yesterday to reach the last four, while Liverpool clinched a semifinal place with a 21 victory at Manchester City.
Edin Dzeko, Daniele De Rossi from the penalty spot and Kostas Manolas with an 82ndminute header gave Roma a famous victory to send the Serie A side through on away goals after Barcelona won 41 at home in the first leg last week.
Mohamed Salah’s remarkable run of goals meanwhile continued to help send Liverpool into the last four as Juergen Klopp’s side came from behind for a 21 win at Premier League rival Manchester City and a 51 aggregate triumph.
Roma achieved a memorable comeback when it overturned a 41 deficit from the first leg in the Olympic Stadium to reach the last four for the first time.
Barca fell behind in the sixth minute when Daniele De Rossi found Edin Dzeko for the striker to control the ball with one touch and finish with his second.
De Rossi then converted from the penalty spot in the 58th after Gerard Pique brought down Dzeko in the box, and Manolas send the home crowd into raptures with a glancing nearpost header eight minutes from a spectacular triumph.
In Manchester, Egypt striker Salah struck with a neat leftfoot chip in the 56th minute to stun City which dominated the first half and led from an early goal, but had manager Pep Guardiola sent to the stands as the teams came off at the break.
Roberto Firmino then struck a 77thminute winner in off the post after Nicolas Otamendi failed to clear on the right to send another of the competition’s favourites out.
City, 30 down from a week ago at Anfield, got the early goal it was looking for when Raheem Sterling robbed Virgil van Dijk — with more than a hint of a shove — near the touchline in the second minute and found Gabriel Jesus to finish.
City piled on the pressure with Liverpool hardly able to get out of its own half, and Bernardo Silva hit the post before Leroy Sane thought he had scored but was ruled offside.
Television replayed showed that keeper Loris Karius’ punched clearance came off Liverpool’s James Milner, therefore playing Sane onside.
Guardiola was sent from the touchline by referee and fellow Spaniard Antonio Mateu Lahoz as he vented his anger towards the official as the players came off at halftime.
‘‘I said he was wrong. That is why he sent me off. I didn’t insult him. I said it was a penalty and the ball came off Milner,’’ Guardiola told BT Sport.
‘‘Big congratulations to Liverpool. They are a top team with an outstanding manager. Liver pool deserved to go through.’’
Liverpool manager Jurgen Klopp rued his side’s poor start but credited the way it came back.
‘‘It was difficult tonight, especially with the start, this wonderful goal we served them almost on a plate,’’ Klopp told BT Sport. ‘‘We needed to react in the right way, I liked the reaction immediately after that.’’ — DPA