Roma thrash Dynamo Kiev to reach knockout stage

(Agencies)
Updated: 2007-11-28 10:14

KIEV - Roma crushed Dynamo Kiev 4-1 to reach the Champions League knockout stage helped by two goals from Mirko Vucinic in frosty conditions on Tuesday.


AS Roma's Christian Panucci (C) is embraced by his team mates Daniele De Rossi (L) and Mirko Vucinic (R) after scoring against Genoa during their Italian Serie A soccer match at the Ferraris stadium in Genoa November 24, 2007. AS Roma won 1-0. [Agencies] 

The win clinched second place for the Italians, who have 10 points from five matches behind Group F winners Manchester United, who beat Sporting 2-1 for a maximum 15 points.

Montenegro forward Vucinic continued the excellent form he has shown since replacing injured captain Francesco Totti by scoring in the 36th and 78th minutes to wrap up the victory, either side of a goal for Dynamo by Ismael Bangoura.

Christian Panucci had opened the scoring after just four minutes before French forward Ludovic Giuly took advantage of a break from the halfway line to round goalkeeper Olexandr Rybka and slot home to put the visitors 2-0 ahead and in control after 33 minutes.

A woeful Dynamo were caught out again just three minutes later as Vucinic latched on to a through ball and coolly beat Rybka.

Dynamo, who have lost all five group games and are now without a win in 12 Champions League ties, threatened more after the break and got one back through Guinea striker Bangoura in the 63rd minute.

Dynamo coach Oleg Luzhny, who said last week that half of his team should be sacked in a "revolution" to reinvigorate the team, conceded his side's performance had been lacklustre.

"We allowed ourselves too many mistakes in defence... The key reason for our defeat was a lack of concentration in the opening part of the game," he said.

Vucinic punished the poor defending again to grab his second with a clinical finish from the edge of the box from Max Tonetto's cutback.

 



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