Bologna booked their place in the Europa League quarter finals after a dramatic 4-3 extra-time victory over Roma at the Stadio Olimpico, sealing a 5-4 aggregate success in one of the competition’s most thrilling ties of the season. It is Bologna’s first appearance in the quarter finals of a major European competition since 1998-99.
The visitors struck first in the 22nd minute when Jonathan Rowe finished brilliantly from the edge of the area, before Roma responded through Evan Ndicka, who headed home from a Lorenzo Pellegrini corner. Bologna, however, regained the lead before the break as Federico Bernardeschi converted from the penalty spot.
Roma’s task became even harder just before the hour mark when Santiago Castro punished a defensive mistake to make it 3-1 on the night and give Bologna a two-goal cushion in the tie. Yet the hosts refused to go away. Donyell Malen pulled one back from the penalty spot before Pellegrini levelled the match late in normal time to send the contest into extra time.
With both sides tense and aware that one mistake could prove fatal, Bologna found the decisive moment in the 111th minute. Nicolo Cambiaghi raced onto a through ball and beat Mile Svilar at his near post to send the away end into celebration and knock Roma out.
The result extends Bologna’s unbeaten run in this season’s Europa League to 11 matches, while also marking their sixth consecutive win in all competitions. They will now face Aston Villa in the quarter-finals. Roma, meanwhile, bow out after another painful European night at home
