AS Roma secured their place in the round of 16 of the Europa League with a thrilling 3-2 victory against FC Porto, overcoming the Portuguese side with explosive performances.
Playing at their home stadium, Roma faced Porto for their decisive second leg following a 1-1 draw from the first leg. The match was pivotal, and the stakes were high as both teams sought to advance.
Porto drew first blood when Samu Aghehowa scored during the 27th minute, giving them the lead early on. Despite the setback, AS Roma displayed resilience, with star player Paulo Dybala leading their charge. Just eight minutes later, during the 35th minute, Dybala sent the crowd roaring with his equalizer. He followed this up shortly with another goal at the 39-minute mark, turning the tables and placing Roma 2-1 up.
Claudio Ranieri, the manager of AS Roma, praised Dybala's performance, stating, "Having great players helps, having Dybala in your lineup means a lot. He charges the team, and it is thanks to him we recovered the match." He emphasized how significant Dybala's presence was, saying, "He lights up, he is the fuse, the bomb, he is everything." Dybala’s leadership and skill not only rallied the team but also gave them the confidence needed to push forward.
With Porto reeling from Dybala's quick goals, the match continued, and Roma took control. The momentum shifted even more when Porto's Stephen Eustaquio received a red card early in the second half, leaving Porto to battle with just ten players. This proved to be pivotal as it allowed Roma to maintain pressure on their opponents.
Roma’s Niccolo Pisilli then struck what would become the decisive third goal for the team at the 83rd minute, putting them at 3-1 and seeming to secure their position. Despite this, Porto managed to add pressure toward the end, with Devyne Rensch unintentionally scoring an own goal deep in added time, adjusting the final score to 3-2.
Post-match, Ranieri expressed mixed emotions about the performance, acknowledging the areas needing improvement. "Undoubtedly. I am super happy, but we need to improve. Everyone knows we concede goals on the counterattack, I don’t understand why we allow these spaces," he remarked. His passion for developing the team was evident as he reflected on the game, mentioning how the group showed determination but still needed to tighten their defense.
All said and done, AS Roma advanced with a 4-3 aggregate score over both legs against Porto. This victory not only signifies progression to the next round but also boosts morale among the players and their supporting fans. Ranieri expressed his happiness over the collective effort stating, "The boys played a great game, I’m happy, the fans are happy." He noted the game was pivotal for the morale and performance of the team moving forward.
Looking to the future, AS Roma will now face either Athletic Club from Bilbao or their Serie A rivals Lazio, which makes for exciting matchups ahead. Fans of the Giallorossi can look forward to more thrilling performances as the tournament progresses. The draw for the last 16 will occur soon, promising to heighten anticipation and maintain excitement within the sporting community.