ROMA’S EDIN DZEKO scored the equaliser in a 1-1 draw against Ajax on the night to advance to the Europa League semi-finals 3-2 on aggregate in Rome tonight.
The last Italian team left in European competition held off the Dutch to set up a final-four clash with Manchester United who beat Granada.
Roma had won the first leg 2-1 in Amsterdam, but the Dutch dominated early in the Stadio Olimpico taking the lead after the break with a Brian Brobbey goal.
Dzeko tapped in with 18 minutes to go as the hosts held on to reach the final four of a European competition for the second time in four seasons after the Champions League in 2018.
Roma’s hopes of reaching the Champions League next season could depend on their success in the Europa League as they sit seventh in Serie A.
Jordan Veretout had an early chance to put the hosts ahead but his effort was ruled offside after eight minutes.
Roma goalkeeper Pau Lopez’s clumsy pass almost handed Ajax their first goal before Amadou Diawara blocked a Dusan Tadic effort.
Ajax lost defender Sean Klaiber to a muscular injury after 22 minutes with Perr Schuurs coming on in his place.
But Ajax controlled possession in the first half without being able to break through against a solid Roma defence and Lopez.
The breakthrough came four minutes after the break when Schuurs sent the ball over the top for second-half substitute Brobbey who beat the out-rushing Lopez.
It was 19-year-old’s third goal in the competition since the Dutch side joined the competition in the knockout stage.
The Roma keeper denied Brobbey a second ten minutes later before Tadic sent in the rebound which was ruled out after a VAR review for a foul on Henrikh Mkhitaryan in the build-up.
Roma were on the scoreboard after 72 minutes with Bosnian Dzeko tapping in off a Riccardo Calafiori cross to beat Maarten Stekelenburg.
Four-time European champions Ajax were unable to snatch another goal which would have pushed the game into extra-time.
Unai Emery is on course to claim his fourth Europa League crown as a coach after his Villarreal team made short work of Dinamo Zagreb in a 2-1 win to qualify 3-1 on aggregate.
Paco Alacer opened the scoring nine minutes before the break when he finished off a superb team move and Gerard Moreno continued a career-best season shortly afterwards, firing home his sixth goal in the competition after Dominik Livakovic’s save.
Mislav Orsic salvaged some pride for Dinamo with 16 minutes left, but it was too little too late to save the Croatian champions’ European campaign.
The42 Rugby Weekly / SoundCloud
Murray Kinsella, Bernard Jackman and Gavan Casey delve into the mechanics of signing players in rugby and look ahead to Ireland’s home clash with France in the Women’s Six Nations.
When a national team is playing the national broadcaster should be just allowed show the match without having to fight for the rights and/or pay out millions.
@Jason Ebbs: a scam to try and get an increase in the tv licence RTE and its licence fee is of another age shut it down a complete con
@Richard Russell: not that I’m justifying it, but there has not been licence increase since 2008. Plus it’s not going to increase this year because if there is an increase it happens in the budget.
@Jason Ebbs: they are showing it – this article is incorrect
What’s the point of a national broadcaster if they can’t show their national teams of major sporting events?
Telly bingo will be next !
Sky’s coverage is way better. End of
@Keith ☘️: it’s a no brainer with dodgy box readily available
@Keith ☘️: Sky sucks!
@Keith ☘️: that not the point and I’m not sure it’s true anyway. The point is the national broadcaster should show national games particularly ones of such importantance so everyone has the opportunity to watch it.
First the 6 nations now this…just scrap the place!!! Money pit!!!
Oh oh
They will asking for an higher licence fee.
Is anybody else going off the boys in green….I’m not even that bothered if we qualify
Probably be humiliated in the finals playing ape_man football…
Lads, what’s the problem? Find a cafe, use the wiki, and go onto the sky channel on Mobdro. Either way, it’s free.
@Conor Alexander Lynott: a cafe? To watch the game? I’d say you are a bundle of laughs
@Conor Alexander Lynott: Nothing like watching the match in Starbucks, the atmosphere is electric.
@Conor Alexander Lynott: besides going to a cafe to watch a game, mobdro is as useful as a waterproof teabag.
@Eric Gaffney: that got a good laugh out of me.
@Mel Roberts: A big group. big scree with Chromecast, pizza and a load of chocolate fudge cake and soft fizzy drinks, mot to mention coffee
for afterwards?I would have thought it would have been great craic with all the caffeine floating around, but each to their own All possible with a little negotiation beforehand. Gotta think outside the box, Rob.
@King B Probably useless for you because you have an Iphone. Works just fine on android
@Conor Alexander Lynott: aye sounds fun alright if you are a 14 year old girl!
@Mel Roberts: I’ll make sure Guiness include that line in their Guiness Clear ad. Nice innovation, son.
@Conor Alexander Lynott: is Friday, Friday gotta get down on Friday.
I am beginning to hate sports and sky. Fcuk you sky
€160 a year for a TV license means isn’t free to air for the viewer.
They have €50million to play with. They don’t have to do much fighting.
This article is incorrect – RTE will be showing the playoffs & the Slovakia gamme
Remember me da sayin in the late 90’s..” bbc show no England football anymore sky have the lot it’s a disgrace Ireland would never let that happen to Irish games” I replied “If sky buy the rights they’ll lose them” His reply. “no chance ever” Ok then…
Genius. Pay a fortune for matches that will probably be called off.