Resolute Roma earns Ajax draw for semi-finals

ROME - AS Roma advanced to the Europa League semi-finals with a 3-2 aggregate win over Ajax Amsterdam after Edin Dzeko's late equaliser secured a 1-1 home draw on Thursday.

The Italian side will now face Manchester United, who beat Granada 2-0 on the night and 4-0 on aggregate in their quarter-final second leg, for a place in next month's final.

Brian Brobbey struck for Ajax four minutes after his halftime introduction but Dzeko's 72nd minute finish levelled the scores in the quarter-final second leg.

The visitors dominated possession and had a second goal disallowed for a Nicolas Tagliafico foul but struggled to again break down a resolute home defence despite a late onslaught.

"We had more problems in Amsterdam, but today we controlled them well," Roma coach Paulo Fonseca told Sky Italia. "Ajax are a very strong team with great quality, but defensively we played a great game."

It was another frustrating night for Ajax, who finished both legs with more shots on target and possession than their opponents, but could not make their dominance count.

“The best team has been eliminated,” Ajax coach Erik ten Hag said.

“Last week we created plenty

“I couldn't quite believe the last ball went over the net. It nearly didn't.

“I was pleased, regardless, with how I was playing coming into the match. I felt good. You can never be confident coming into such a big match like that against Novak. It is clearly a big win and I am delighted that I got through.”

Evans, the top-ranked British player at 33rd, made a fast start in the match on a cooler day at picturesque MonteCarlo Country Club on the French Riviera to go up 3-0 in the opening set but Djokovic rallied back and levelled the of chances, but failed to take advantage of them.”

Roma is Italy's last remaining representatives in European competition this season, and the clash with United will be its first European semi-final since a 7-6 aggregate defeat by Liverpool in the 2017/18 Champions League. set at 4-4. The 33-year-old, however, suffered another service break on the next game before Evans, who used his backhand slice expertly to trouble Djokovic, held his own to take the opener.

Djokovic started aggressively in the second set and opened a 3-0 lead and had a set point on Evans' serve at 5-4 but the British player kept his cool and converted his first matchpoint with a winner to complete the biggest win of his career.

"The biggest thing is, you have got to believe you can win,” he said.