AS Roma are through to the
quarter-finals of the Champions League after beating Shakhtar
Donetsk 1-0 at the Olimpico for a 2-2 aggregate score that put
the Romans through on the away goal rule.
Roma's goal came from Edin Dzeko.
The Giallorossi join Juventus in the quarter-finals - the
first time in 11 years that Italy has had two teams reaching
this stage of the competition.
Vincenzo Montella's Sevilla are also through after beating
Manchester United, and Chelsea's Antonio Conte could join him if
the Londoners win at Barcelona Wednesday night.
Dzeko ha proved precious to the Romans after turning down a
move to Chelsea in the January transfer window.
"I didn't want to leave because I want to play in this kind
of game," said the Bosnia centre-forward, who latched onto a
long ball and slipped it through the Shakhtar goalkeeper's legs
to seal the deal for Roma with seven minutes gone in the second
half.
"We managed to do something we'd been missing for over 10
years," he said.
"Going forward and playing with great teams is a source of
pride for all of us".
Roma coach Eusebio Di Francesco took Dzeko off just before
the end so he could get a standing ovation from the Roma
faithful.
"It wasn't for me but for all the lads," said Dzeko
It was Dzeko's first goal in a knockout phase of the
Champions League.
Looking forward to Friday's draw, Dzeko said "all the teams
are strong, we'll play our best, to our utmost force, with any
of them".
Flanker Alessandro Florenzi said "Dzeko is our strength, our
spearhead, and we're going to keep close hold on him".
From Boston, owner James Paolotta commented: "It was a great
victory.
Di Francesco, for his part, said "Rome deserved 10 out of 10
for application, I saw a mature team, that played a careful
game.
"We were good at not conceding anything to our opponents".
Juve, meanwhile, are going into Friday's draw with the
prospect of being four points clear of Napoli at the top of
Serie A if they beat Atalanta Wednesday night.
Boss Max Allegri said "the title race won't be over even if
we win".
As for Friday's draw, he echoed the Roma players in saying
"they're all strong, bring it on".
Juve got through to the quarters after beating Tottenham
Hotspur 2-1 at Wembley and 4-3 on aggregate.
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