Kalema Lawrence
Though Many have been expecting a historical comeback in the first round of the return legs of the UEFA Champions League Quarters, none had expected that the La Liga favorites, Barcelona FC would be the club in the quotes of amazing eviction.
As the world had focused at what was happening at the Etihad Stadium in England, expecting Manchester City to overcome the 3 – 0 deficit to Liverpool FC, it turned out to be a surprise that it rather happened at Stadio Olimpico as AS Roma thumped Barca 3 – 0 to qualify to the semis.
Last week at the Nou Camp, Barcelona won 4 – 1, and it has been this away goal that has hepled the Italians qualify on an away goals rule following a 4 – 4 aggregate.
Eden Dzeko chased a dink over the top of the Barcelona defence and got to it before Umtiti, as the keeper rushed out to meet him, he poked it into the net from eight yards to send the home crowd wild with a Roma’s 1 – 0 lead.
De Rossi, who scored an own goal in the first leg, placed a fine spotkick into the corner to make it 2 – 0 before the greek defender sealed the Qatara’s evoction with a glancing six-yard header into the net from a corner!
Now Roma is the third UCL team to advance after losing the first leg by 3+ goals. following last season’s Barcelona vs PSG and 2004 quarters of Deportivo vs AC Milan.
On the other hand, Liverpool claimed a third win fromm the top contentants of the English Premier League in the 2017/ 2018 football season, one being an EPL win at the Anifield and the other, hom and away wins in the UCL Round 16.
Roma and Liverpool are now in the Semis waiting for today’s return battles of Real Madrid Vs Juventus and the Barnrbeau and Bayern Muchen Vs Sevilla at the Alianz Arena. Real Madrid and Bayern won the First legs with 3 – 0 and 4 – 1 respectively.
