AS Roma came from behind to go
up against Bayer Leverkusen and then risked losing after being
caught in what Italian media agreed was a "crazy" game of
football in Germany Tuesday night.
Sono Pazzi Questi Romani (SPQR) ("These Romans Are Crazy")
headlined La Gazzetta dello Sport over a report that highlighted
the wild mood swings on a windy night in Leverkusen.
Roma, desperate for points after just one draw in the
group, fell behind to two 'Chicharito' Hernandez goals before
levelling with a double by 'Captain Future' Daniele De Rossi and
forging 4-2 up thanks to a delightful free kick from the deadly
Miralem Pjanic and a cool finish to a classic counterattack from
Iago Falque.
But then the Giallorrosi were hit by a collective fit of
the jitters as they were pulled back to 4-4 - and Hernandez just
missed rounding off his hat-trick with a shot that whistled past
the post, and nearly doomed the Romans to a group exit, in the
dying minutes.
It was the fifth time this season that Roma have conceded a
decisive goal in the last 10 minutes - and was worsened this
time when the follow-up came just two minutes later.
"Two minutes of group madness pegged the Romans back in the
most dramatic fashion," said La Repubblica, calling the match
"one of the craziest roller-coaster rides ever seen".
Roma now need to beat Bayer in Rome in two weeks' time,
and BATE Borisov a fortnight after, also at the Olimpico, to
advance to the knock-out stage without having to get a result
against European champions Barcelona in their last game.
ALL RIGHTS RESERVED © Copyright ANSA
