Dynamic Dybala delivers Roman rescue act

Mueez Ajao

– Stephan El Shaarawy and Lorenzo Pellegrini scored in extra time to earn hosts AS Roma a spot in the Europa League semifinals after defeating Dutch side Feyenoord Rotterdam 4-1 on Thursday for a 4-2 aggregate win.

– El Shaarawy converted a cross from Tammy Abraham after 101 minutes and Pellegrini sealed the win seven minutes later when he slotted in a rebound from an Abraham shot.

– After Feyenoord had won the quarterfinal first leg 1-0, Roma pushed for the opening goal from the start, missing two great opportunities in the first 10 minutes.

Also Read: Deadly Dybala hands Roma third place in Serie A

– On the hour mark, roars of relief erupted around the Stadio Olimpico when Leonardo Spinazzola took advantage of a deflection within the box to poke the ball into the bottom corner.

– In the 80th minute, Igor Paixao headed in an equaliser for the visitors, unmarked inside the box from a cross by Sebastian Szymanski, only for Roma’s Paulo Dybala to level the aggregate score one minute before stoppage time with a shot from a tricky angle.