Late Goal Seals AS Roma’s Victory Over Athletic Club in Europa League

ROME, Italy, March 6 (Reuters) – AS Roma earned a dramatic 2-1 victory over Athletic Club in the first leg of their UEFA Europa League Round of 16 tie, thanks to a stoppage-time goal from Eldor Shomurodov on Thursday night at the Stadio Olimpico. The win sets the stage for an intense return leg next week in Spain.

The match featured a thrilling second half where both teams exhibited determination, but it was the late surge by Roma that clinched the win. Athletic Club opened the scoring shortly after halftime as Iñaki Williams found the net with a header in the 50th minute.

Roma quickly equalized when Angeliño‘s shot deflected in from a tight angle after a precise pass from Zeki Celik. As the match progressed, Athletic Club was reduced to 10 men when Yeray Alvarez received his second yellow card in the 85th minute.

With the advantage, Roma intensified their attacks, and Shomurodov’s winner came in the final minute of regulation, turning in a low shot to the goalkeeper Agirrezabala’s left after receiving a through ball from Alexis Saelemaekers.

“We showed resilience and determination,” said Roma coach Claudio Ranieri after the match. “Despite the early goal against us, the team responded remarkably, and we knew we had the crowd behind us to push us forward.”

In the first half, Roma struggled to capitalize on their chances, with Artem Dovbyk slipping before firing a close-range effort and Paulo Dybala hitting the crossbar. Athletic threatened early on with a strong set piece, but Roma’s defense held firm.

Despite the loss, Athletic Club coach Ernesto Valverde remained optimistic. “We put in a solid performance but ultimately lacked the finishing touch,” Valverde remarked. “We have a tough challenge ahead of us at home, but I believe we can bounce back.”

In the end, Roma’s control of the match was evident with 58.5% possession, yet Athletic matched their intensity with 16 shot attempts, 5 of which were on target. The return leg promises to be an intriguing encounter as Athletic Club will look to leverage home advantage against the Italian side.

The atmosphere at Stadio Olimpico was electric, filled with over 62,000 passionate fans who rallied behind their team. The win represents a significant step for Roma in their quest for European glory this season.