Roma 2-1 Milan (3-1 on agg.): Paulo Dybala among goals as Daniele De Rossi’s men secure Europa League semi-final spot
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Updated 18/04/2024 at 21:31 GMT
The all-Italian UEFA Europa League affair in Rome delivered drama aplenty as Daniele De Rossi's hosts kept up their remarkable resurgence by progressing to the semi-finals of the competition at the expense of AC Milan. Gianluca Mancini put Roma ahead on the night before Paulo Dybala made it 3-0 on aggregate. Zeki Celik was sent off and Milan pulled one back late on, but the damage had been done.
Gianluca Mancini of AS Roma celebrates with teammates Romelu Lukaku and Paulo Dybala after scoring the opening goal during the UEFA Europa League 2023/24 Quarter-Final second leg match between AS Roma and AC Milan at Stadio Olimpico on April 18, 2024 in R
Image credit: Getty Images
Roma roared into the UEFA Europa League semi-finals with a 2-1 win against Serie A rivals AC Milan in the Eternal City after an eventful clash where the hosts scored twice and had a man sent off before half-time.
A week on from his match-winning goal in the first leg, centre-back Gianluca Mancini was again the unlikely goalscoring hero as he tapped in the opener inside 12 minutes, before Paulo Dybala doubled the hosts’ lead with a sumptuous curling finish.
Daniele De Rossi, who signed a contract extension to remain Roma coach next season earlier on Thursday, looked on course for a dream day, only for a rash Zeki Celik challenge on Rafael Leao to leave his side down to 10 men with an hour still to play.
However, for all their possession and attacking territory, Milan struggled to break down a resilient Roma defence, coming closest when Ruben Loftus-Cheek rattled the bar while the numbers were still even, until a late Matteo Gabbia header proved to be a consolation.
Next up for the Giallorossi is a semi-final clash with newly crowned Bundesliga champions Bayer Leverkusen in a repeat of last season’s competition - when the Italians won 1-0 on aggregate.
TALKING POINT – DE ROSSI KEEPS ROMA’S EUROPA REVENGE MISSION ALIVE
Roma felt a sense of injustice when they fell agonisingly short at the final hurdle in this competition last season, losing to Sevilla on penalties before Jose Mourinho earned a ban for a tirade launched at referee Anthony Taylor.
A year on, the mood in the Eternal City is buoyant under Mourinho’s successor De Rossi, who signed a contract extension earlier on Thursday and could not have dreamed of a better way to celebrate.
Next up is a true test of how far they have come though, as a repeat of last year's clash with Leverkusen comes with both sides in different places; Roma are on the rise under their new coach, but Leverkusen are now German champions led by Europe’s most sought-after young coach in Xabi Alonso.
PLAYER OF THE MATCH – GIANLUCA MANCINI
The man is on fire at the moment. A matchwinner in the Rome Derby and the first leg against Milan, Mancini was again on target to open the scoring early on here and calm some nerves. Not only that, but he then marshalled a heroic defensive effort with 10 men from the heart of the Roma backline.
PLAYER RATINGS
Roma: Svilar 7; Celik 3, Smalling 7, Mancini 8, Spinazzola 7; Bove 7, Paredes 7, Pellegrini 8; El Shaarawy 7, Lukaku 6, Dybala 8
Subs: Abraham 6, Llorente 7, Sanches 6, Angelino 6
AC Milan: Maignan 6; Calabria 6, Gabbia 7, Tomori 6, Hernandez 6; Musah 6, Bennacer 6; Pulisic 5, Loftus-Cheek 6, Leao 7; Giroud 6
Subs: Jovic 6, Reijnders 7, Chukwueze 6, Florenzi 6, Okafor 6
MATCH HIGHLIGHTS
12’ GOAL! ROMA 1-0 MILAN (MANCINI)
Would you believe it, it's Mancini AGAIN! The big centre-back tees up Pellegrini on the edge of the box and the skipper's curler comes off the post, into the path of Mancini for a tap-in! Milan have it all to do now.
21’ MILAN HIT THE BAR!
So close to an equaliser! A cross is cut out but falls into the path of Loftus-Cheek, who slams a volley into the ground first time and it bounces up and off the woodwork! Huge chance for Milan, who were denied by the woodwork twice in the first leg.
22’ GOAL! ROMA 2-0 MILAN (DYBALA)
Roma are cruising now! Just as Milan looked to be getting a foothold in the game, the hosts hit on the break.
Lukaku chases a long ball, bounces off Gabbia and tries to put in a cross. It's cut out but only into the path of Dybala, who drops a gorgeous curler into the far bottom corner.
31’ RED CARD! CELIK SENT OFF
It's all happening! Leao speeds away down the wing and has his heels clipped by Celik. The referee comes over and brandishes a red! That has stunned the home crowd here a bit as they will have to play out the rest of this tie with 10 men.
85’ GOAL! ROMA 2-1 MILAN (GABBIA)
Well now, they've got one back at the death! Leao's curling delivery from the left wing is nodded home by Gabbia and Milan have five minutes plus added time to get another two...
KEY STATS
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