Roman warrior /Manolas completes amazing comeback against Barca
0 AS Roma’s Greek defender Kostas Manolas looks like he can scarcely believe his 83rd-minute glancing header found the net to put his side 3-0 up at the Stadio Olimpico – overturning Barcelona’s 4-1 first-leg advantage and taking the Italians into the Champions League semi-finals on away goals.
Roma secured a dramatic 3-0 victory over Barcelona at the Stadio Olimpico last night to book their place in the Champions League semi-finals on away goals after a 4-4 aggregate result.
Trailing 4-1 after the first leg, Roma went ahead on the night through Edin Dzeko. Daniele De Rossi doubled their lead from the penalty spot early in the second half and Kostas Manolas scored late to clinch Roma’s spot in the final four.
As the stunned Barca players trudged off the pitch in disbelief, the stadium erupted in delight and Roma supporters stayed on long into the night to celebrate one of the most memorable comebacks in Champions League history.
The hosts broke the deadlock after six minutes when De Rossi’s pin-point pass was met in the box by Dzeko, who got the ball under his spell with a brilliant first touch before prodding past Marc-andre Ter Stegen from six yards.
Barca had an opportunity to hit back less than two minutes later after Juan Jesus tripped the on-rushing Lionel Messi 25 yards from goal but the Argentina forward missed the target with the subsequent free-kick.
Thereafter, Roma had a spring in their step and pushed forward at every opportunity.
Barcelona looked rattled and found themselves two goals behind on 56 minutes when Gerard Pique fouled Dzeko in the area. Captain De Rossi rifled the ball beyond Ter Stegen, leaving Roma needing only one more goal.
Ter Stegen was called into action once again in the 68th minute to keep Radja Nainggolan at bay before Messi sent his 20-yard shot straight at Alisson six minutes later.
And after substitute Stephan El Shaarawy had been denied by a last-ditch save by Ter Stegen, Manolas nodded Cengiz Under’s cross past the German to make it 4-4 on aggregate with eight minutes left to play.
Barcelona threw the kitchen sink at Roma late on but with Messi and Ousmane Dembele unable to convert their chances, Roma held on to complete their unlikely comeback win.