Roma 4-2 Liverpool: Match report, reaction and key statistics

The Giallorossi went out of the competition 7-6 on aggregate, despite a passionate and determined attempt to overcome last week's 5-2 loss at Anfield.

And that was despite Eusebio Di Francesco's side getting off to the worst possible start: conceding an early away goal through Sadio Mane.

But the Giallorossi fought back to equalise not once but twice at the Olimpico. First James Milner's 15th minute own goal got them back on terms - before, after Georginio Wijnaldum had scored after a corner, it was Edin Dzeko who restored parity early in the second half.

Radja Nainggolan then scored twice in the final five minutes to win the game on the night for Roma - although by the time his injury time penalty hit the back of the net, it was clear there was not enough time left for a fifth goal - one that would have sent the game to extra-time.

Nevertheless, the team can look back proudly on their run in the competition - knocking out the likes of Atletico Madrid, Shakhtar Donetsk and Barcelona along the way.

Team selection

Di Francesco went with a bold, attacking line-up for the all-important second leg, with Patrik Schick joining Edin Dzeko and Stephan El Shaarawy in attack.

Daniele De Rossi captained the side, with Lorenzo Pellegrini coming into midfield in the place of the injured Kevin Strootman.

Key moments

FIRST HALF

2' - First half-chance falls for the hosts. El Shaarawy flicks the ball in Dzeko's direction inside the box, but the striker's flicked header rolls wide.

6' - Florenzi tees one up from 30 yards, but his sweetly-struck drive flashes just inches wide of Karius's far post.

9' - Goal. Liverpool lead. The visitors counter and Mane finds the net. 0-1.

15' - GOAL! ONE BACK! OWN GOAL! It's a defensive mix-up for Liverpool, as the attempted clearance under pressure hits Milner and rebounds back into the net! Level on the night! 1-1.

25' - Alisson makes a good save from close-range to deny Mane after Robertson's cutback.

25' - Goal. Liverpool lead again. Wijnaldum heads home from inside the box. 1-2.

35' - Post! El Shaarawy's deflected shot from 25 yards out beats Karius but ricochets away off the woodwork!

40' - El Shaarawy wants a penalty after going down under pressure inside the box, but the referee waves away the claims.

44' - Lovren is booked for a clumsy push as El Shaarawy scampers round him on the edge of the box.

See more images in our dedicated match gallery.

SECOND HALF

49' - PENALT... no! Dzeko is brought down inside the box by Karius - but the flag is up for offside! Replays suggest Dzeko was onside when the ball was played...

52' - GOAL! DZEKO! A second equaliser of the night! El Shaarawy's shot is parried away by Karius, but Edin does brilliantly to collect the rebound and then find the bottom corner with a placed shot! 2-2!

60' - CLOSE! De Rossi picks out Cengiz with a brilliant ball from deep, but Karius is just about able to get down to the winger's first-time shot!

63' - HOW DID THAT NOT GO IN?!?! Another penalty missed by the referee, this time for handball as Alexander-Arnold blocks El Shaarawy's shot on the line with his arm!

66' - Dzeko hits a shot on the turn from eight yards out, but he cannot find the target. Roma trying everything!

78' - Schick curls a shot narrowly wide of Karius's near post.

80' - Radja finds Dzeko with a raking ball over to the left; the striker gets in behind Alexander-Arnold but Karius makes a smart low stop.

86' - GOAL! RADJA! A first Champions League for Nainggolan, as he fires a trademark rocket in off the bottom of the post from 25 yards out. Still need two more though... 3-2.

90' - Now a penalty for Roma. Klavan handles as Cengiz's first touch threatens to take it past him and clear on goal...

90' - GOAL! RADJA AGAIN! Radja thumps home the penalty, but there is hardly any time left on the clock... 4-2.

Key match statistics

See more game statistics in our dedicated match centre.

Social media reaction

Roma reaction

“I'm disappointed because we could have shown even more belief. Going back out for the second half I told the lads that just as we'd scored three against Barcelona we could score four against Liverpool. We showed that and if you look at the chances we created and the decisions that went against us it's disappointing more than anything.

“At the end of the day, I can only pay credit to the lads because what we managed to do was extraordinary. It's not easy when you go 2-1 down in the first half – having gifted two goals to the opposition – to then come out and respond the way we did, putting Liverpool under the cosh without getting caught on the break.

“We were almost perfect today – unlike at Anfield, where in 45 minutes we ruined so much of the good work we'd done beforehand.”

- Eusebio Di Francesco

"Given how big a club Roma is, reaching the Champions League semi-finals should be something we do once every three years, not once every 30.

“I'm proud of my team-mates and so very proud of the fans who were here today – and who have always been behind us. It was the sort of atmosphere I hadn't seen for years, since I was a kid, like in those games against Brondby and Slavia Prague. They may not have brought us a trophy but I've never forgotten them."On nights like this you sense the pride, the love, the very essence of being Roman. That's something we have to build on now.”

- Daniele De Rossi

What's next?

The final of the Champions League takes place on May 26 in Kiev. Liverpool will face Real Madrid.

The Giallorossi are back in domestic action on Sunday night, as they play Cagliari in Sardinia.

ROMA 4-2 LIVERPOOL

* 6-7 on aggregate, Liverpool progress to the final *

Goalscorers: Milner (og. 15'), Dzeko (53'), Nainggolan (86', 90' p); Mane (9'), Wijnaldum (25')

Roma: Alisson; Kolarov, Fazio, Manolas; Florenzi; Lo. Pellegrini, De Rossi, Nainggolan; Schick, Dzeko, El Shaarawy.

Liverpool: Karius; Alexander-Arnold, Van Dijk, Lovren, Robertson; Wijnaldum, Henderson, Milner; Salah, Firmino, Mane.