PARIS: Paulo Dybala scored twice as Roma beat Porto on Thursday to clinch a place in the last 16 of the Europa League, while Ajax clawed through in extra time despite playing a man down for 95 minutes.
Spanish forward Samu Aghehowa gave Porto the lead against Roma after a 1-1 draw in Portugal last week, but two quick-fire goals from Dybala turned the tie in favour of the 2023 runners-up.
Porto were reduced to 10 men when Canada midfielder Stephen Eustaquio was sent off early in the second half, and Niccolo Pisilli struck what proved to be the crucial third goal for Claudio Ranieri’s men.
Devyne Rensch turned into his own net deep into added time as Roma progressed 4-3 on aggregate.
“Having a champion like Dybala means a lot. He’s extraordinary; he says very little, but he is a leader and always says the right things,” Ranieri told Sky Sport.
“We have a huge opportunity in Europe. This competition can give us a lot this year,” said Dybala.
Four-time European champions Ajax survived a huge scare against close neighbours Union Saint-Gilloise of Belgium, nearly squandering a 2-0 advantage from a week ago.
Kevin Mac Allister’s header halved the deficit and Promise David tucked away a penalty after Ajax captain Davy Klaassen was dismissed in the 25th minute for a deliberate handball.
But Kenneth Taylor’s spot-kick in extra time was enough to put Ajax through 3-2 on aggregate.
Jose Mourinho, a former winner of the competition with Porto and Manchester United, saw his Fenerbahce side go through 5-2 overall after a 2-2 draw away to Anderlecht in a match that was delayed in the first half by crowd trouble.
Real Sociedad thrashed Midtjylland 7-3 on aggregate after a 5-2 win in San Sebastian.
Norwegian champions Bodo/Glimt overturned a first leg deficit against Dutch side Twente with a dramatic 5-2 win after extra time in the Arctic Circle to progress 6-4 on aggregate.
The hosts were heading out before striking twice in second-half stoppage time but Twente then levelled the tie and forced extra time with a last-gasp equaliser.
Sondre Brunstad Fet put Bodo/Glimt back ahead in the 111th minute, with a second own goal of the night from Twente sealing qualification for their opponents.
Robbie Keane’s Ferencvaros slid to a 3-0 loss at Viktoria Plzen, falling short after their 1-0 win last Thursday.
AZ Alkmaar eased past Galatasaray 6-3 on aggregate despite conceding a two-goal lead in a 2-2 draw in Turkey, while Romanians FCSB won 2-0 in Bucharest to complete a 4-1 aggregate win over PAOK of Greece.
REAL BETIS MAKE LAST-16
In the Conference League, Real Betis moved into the last 16 despite a 1-0 loss in the return leg at home to Gent.
Barcelona loanee Vitor Roque saw red before English defender Archie Brown’s late winner for Gent, but Betis went through 3-1 on aggregate.
Copenhagen knocked out Heidenheim 4-3 over two legs after winning the return fixture 3-1 in Germany after extra time.
Irish outfit Shamrock Rovers suffered penalty heartache as Molde prevailed 5-4 in the shootout after the tie ended 1-1. The Norwegians won 1-0 in Dublin after losing the first leg, with a goal from one-time United prospect Magnus Wolff Eikrem.
Panathinaikos crushed Icelandic dreams as Tete’s 95th-minute goal earned the Greeks a 2-0 win over Vikingur Reykjavik in Athens and 3-2 victory overall.
Pafos won their all-Cypriot encounter with Omonia Nicosia.
Bosnia’s Borac Banja Luka squeezed past Olimpija Ljubljana 1-0 after a goalless stalemate in Slovenia, with Poland’s Jagiellonia Bialystok and Slovenians Celje moving on as well.
Published in Dawn, February 22nd, 2025
