A S Roma 1 Arsenal 0ARSENAL'S DREAM of enjoying a return here in May to the Stadio Olimpico, when the Champions League final will be staged, was kept alive last night when they won a penalty shoot-out 7-6 after a nervy period of extra-time, as Roma raged about the non-award of a penalty that might have settled the issue before then.
The home side had led through Juan’s early goal and when Marco Motta tore into the area in first half stoppage time he went down under Gael Clichy’s clumsy challenge, in which he looked to lay his hands on the Roma midfielder.
Manuel Mejuto Gonzalez, the Spanish referee, was perhaps the only person inside the stadium who did not see an offence.
Arsène Wenger had called upon his young team to produce a defining performance and they did weather a first-half storm to hint at the away goal that would have proved decisive.
But it was Roma, in front of their vociferous fans, who carried the fight and were less happy when the tie went the full distance.
Julio Baptista, the former Arsenal forward, should have won it for them in the 79th minute only to fluff his lines from point-blank range.
Roma had given a passable impersonation of disarray in the build-up to the game. Not only was Daniele De Rossi, the runner-up in Italy’s Player of the Year award, ruled out through suspension and Simone Perrotta in the stands because of injury but fitness concerns hung over several other key players, namely Doni, Philippe Mexes, David Pizarro and Francesco Totti. Mexes did not make it.
Roma had a patched-up feel about them, an impression that was strengthened when Juan, wearing a heavy strapping on the back of his leg, required treatment after making a saving challenge on Robin van Persie in the early going, after the Arsenal forward had hared through.
Juan was forced off midway through the first-half but by then, he had made a telling contribution that sparked delirium in the stands. Arsenal have tightened up defensively in recent weeks but Juan’s goal prompted accusatory stares and hearts to sink.
Totti’s low cross from the left ought to have been dealt with comfortably but William Gallas and Kolo Toure left it for each other, in a fatal split second of hesitation, and when Rodrigo Taddei dummied, the ball reached Juan at the far post after he had been allowed to run unchecked into yards of space. He had time to steady himself and slam a low shot past the exposed Manuel Almunia.
They played around Arsenal for spells of the first-half and midway thought it, they went close to a second goal. Motta broke through the inside right channel and unloaded a drive that Almunia did well to beat away.
Motta, though, retrieved the ball with a cross from the by-line and, after Toure had half cleared, Taddei’s fierce strike drew another smart save from the Arsenal goalkeeper.
It could have been even worse by the interval for Arsenal only for the referee to rule, mystifyingly, that Clichy had not impeded the full back after being beaten by him inside the area. The Arsenal defender appeared to haul the Italian to ground.
All the eye-catching performances came from those in red – Motta was also outstanding – but Arsenal flickered. Perhaps a set piece would yield reward?
Bacary Sagna glanced a header from a corner straight at Doni. Just before the hour, on a breakaway, Emmanuel Eboue’s ball for Nicklas Bendtner was just too heavy. Roma had their chances too in the second half. Baptista headed down and wide after excellent approach work by Vucinic and Totti.
As the minutes ticked by, a strange foreboding appeared to grip the home fans. Murmurs of trepidation replaced the din that had previously held sway. Arsenal fashioned a foothold and with Theo Walcott on as a substitute they began to believe that they could nick the result. It was Baptista, though, from Totti’s flick, who ought to have negated the need for extra time. Toure also went close to doing the same thing only to head over the crossbar.
In the long shoot-out Eduardo missed Arsenal’s first effort, but Almunia saved Mirco Vucinic’s weak effort and Max Tonetto blasted over the bar to send the lucky London side through.
Guardian Service
ROMA:Doni, Motta, Diamoutene, Juan (Julio Baptista 28), Riise, Brighi (Montella 120), Pizarro, Tonetto, Taddei (Aquilani 90), Vucinic, Totti. Subs Not Used: Artur, Loria, Ribeiro, Menez. Booked: Pizarro, Motta. Goals: Juan 10.
ARSENAL:Almunia, Sagna, Toure, Gallas, Clichy, Diaby, Denilson, Eboue (Walcott 74), Nasri, Bendtner (Eduardo 85), Van Persie.
Subs Not Used:Fabianski, Djourou, Gibbs, Vela, Song Billong. Booked: Diaby.
Referee:Manuel Enrique Gonzalez (Spain).
Porto advance
Porto qualified for the quarter-finals of the Champions League thanks to the away goals rule following a 0-0 draw at home to Atletico Madrid last night.
The Portuguese side comfortably kept Atletico at bay to secure their progress, courtesy of a 2-2 draw in Madrid. Porto created the best chance of the first half but goalkeeper Leo Franco saved from Fernando's low strike. Lisandro Lopez, who scored twice in Madrid, hit the upright for Porto ten minutes from time.
