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Boro oust Roma to reach UEFA Cup quarter-finals
(Reuters)
Updated: 2006-03-16 08:39
LONDON, March 15 (Reuters) - Middlesbrough withstood a pulsating fightback
from AS Roma to reach the UEFA Cup quarter-finals for the first time on
Wednesday.
Boro, 1-0 up from the first leg, doubled their advantage through Jimmy Floyd
Hasselbaink at the Olympic stadium before two goals from Brazilian Mancini set
up a thrilling finale.
Roma, who had Philippe Mexes sent off in stoppage time, threw everything at
the English side in the final 25 minutes but Boro held on to go through on away
goals after a 2-1 defeat.
"It has to be the greatest night in the club's history," Boro defender Gareth
Southgate told Channel Five TV.
"Guts got us through. We knew they were a good side and they showed it. We
knew we would have to score and we did."
In another upset Romania's Rapid Bucharest also went through on away goals at
the expense of former European champions Hamburg SV, despite a 3-1 defeat in
Germany, while Sevilla put out Lille 2-1 on aggregate after a 2-0 home win.
ROMA FALTER
Since breaking the Serie A record for successive league wins last month Roma
have faltered and the capital side appeared up against it when Dutch striker
Hasselbaink headed Boro ahead on 32 minutes.
Hasselbaink beat French defender Mexes to Stewart Downing's left-wing cross
and headed powerfully past Gianluca Curci into the far corner.
The goal left Roma, who hit the bar early on through Cesare Bovo, needing
three goals to turn around the tie and Mancini rifled in three minutes before
halftime to give the hosts hope.
Boro were indebted to Mark Schwarzer after the break, the keeper making
superb stops to deny Mancini and Daniele De Rossi but he was beaten again on 65
minutes.
Ray Parlour was penalised for impeding fellow substitute Stefano Okaka and
Mancini sent Schwarzer the wrong way from the penalty spot.
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