AS Roma made hard work of it, but the Italian side qualified to the knockout stages of the UEFA Europa League (UEL), thanks to a 3-1 victory over PFC Ludogorets Razgrad.
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Requiring no less than a win to survive the group stage, Roma were by far the strongest side in the opening exchanges, but missed several gilt-edged chances to take the lead.
Rick collected the ball inside his own half, and the Brazilian ran more than half the length of the pitch before unleashing a bullet driven shot into the bottom corner of the net, to completely stun the Stadio Olimpico, as he celebrated towards the corner flag, almost replicating a scene from Gladiator.
But Roma responded 10 minutes into the second period, when Lorenzo Pellegrini was given the chance to equalise from the penalty spot, and he emphatically put it away to kickstart La Lupa’s comeback mission.
The Italian duly won a second penalty less than ten minutes later, and captain Pellegrini stepped up to dispatch his second spot kick of the evening, sending Sergio Padt the wrong way again.
As the away side committed more men forward it left them open at the back and danger-man Zaniolo made them pay adding a late third, wrapping up Roma’s passage into the knockout stages.
