Europa League roundup: Dybala rescues Roma, Juventus hold on at Sporting
Roma produced a dramatic fightback to reach the Europa League semi-finals, as a late Paulo Dybala strike set up a 4-1 extra-time win over Feyenoord.
After Feyenoord had won the first leg 1-0 in Rotterdam, Roma pushed for the opening goal from the start. Chances came and went before Leonardo Spinazzola poked the ball home on the hour mark, leading to roars of relief around the Stadio Olimpico.
Centre-back Chris Smalling was forced off with a thigh injury, and moments later Feyenoord grabbed what looked like an aggregate winner. Sebastian Szymanski’s cross was flicked into the net by Igor Paixão, the Brazilian winger left unmarked inside the area.
Dybala had other ideas, finishing well from a tight angle to take the tie to extra time. Roma had the momentum and took the aggregate lead when Stephan El Shaarawy converted a cross from Tammy Abraham after 101 minutes. Seven minutes later, Abraham’s shot rebounded to Lorenzo Pellegrini to seal victory.
José Mourinho’s side will face Xabi Alonso’s BayerLeverkusen in the semifinals, as the Bundesliga side won 4-1 at Union Saint-Gilloise for a 5-2 aggregate victory.
Having been held to a 1-1 draw at home las week, Leverkusen took just 66 seconds to go ahead in Belgium, with Moussa Diaby going round keeper Anthony Moris to score. Mitchel Bakker volleyed in their second before half-time, before Moris played the ball straight to Jérémie Frimpong for the visitors’ third goal.
Casper Terho’s fine shot in the 65th gave the hosts faint hope, but Leverkusen – the last German side left in European competition this season – made certain of victory when Adam Hlozek finished on the rebound with 10 minutes to go.
“The mentality of the team was the key tonight,” said Xabi Alonso. “Obviously the early first goal was very helpful. But overall we did it very well. We are a step closer to reaching the final but I’ll only talk about the semifinal.”
Juventus will face Sevilla in the other semi-final, after an early goal by midfielder Adrien Rabiot helped to secure a hard-fought 1-1 draw at Sporting Lisbon, and a 2-1 aggregate win.
The Frenchman netted from close range after nine minutes following a corner, but then conceded a penalty for a foul on Manuel Ugarte. English winger Marcus Edwards converted the spot-* kick, and Sporting were in the ascendancy for the rest of the first half with Ousmane Diomandé and Nuno Santos going close.
In the second half, Juventus – who saw their 15-point penalty in Serie A suspended earlier on Thursday – continued to soak up pressure. Ricardo Esgaio sent a volley over the bar and Sebastián Coates spurned two more chances as time ran out for the hosts.