Roma 1-0 Shakhtar Donetsk: Match report, reaction and key statistics

Edin Dzeko scored the only goal of the game just moments after half-time to decide the tie, erasing the 2-1 lead the Ukrainian champions brought to the Italian capital and ensuring Eusebio Di Francesco's side progressed on away goals.

They will find out their quarter-final opponents during Friday's draw.

On a tense, high stakes night at the Olimpico, once again it was not until the second half that the game sparked into life.

It was Dzeko - with an assist from Kevin Strootman - who provided that spark, as he latched onto the Dutchman's brilliant ball in behind before beating the Shakhtar goalkeeper with an instinctive first-time finish.

That put Roma ahead in the tie - albeit by the slimmest of margins - and soon after they were ahead in numbers, too, when Ivan Ordets was dismissed for hauling down Dzeko as he ran clean through on goal.

Soon after Shakhtar striker Facundo Ferreyra somehow avoided a red card after pushing a ballboy over an advertising hoarding, an outburst that raised the ire of the whole crowd.

But the Giallorossi would not be distracted, seeing out the game - and a few late scares - to progress to the quarter-finals for the first time in 10 years.

Team selection

Diego Perotti started the game after being on the bench for Friday's win over Torino, while both Edin Dzeko and Federico Fazio returned to the side after being suspended for the 3-0 victory.

Daniele De Rossi once again captained the side.

Key moments

FIRST HALF

1' - Early chance for Roma, Dzeko shoots straight at Pyatov.

9' - Nervy moment for Roma as Florenzi flicks an inswinging free-kick narrowly wide of his own far post. The subsequent corner is cleared.

25' - Decent spell for the hosts, as a low cross from Kolarov is barely scrambled away by Pyatov. Moments later Ismaily has to stretch to keep Perotti's cross from finding Cengiz.

27' - Taison goes for goal from distance but Alisson is able to watch it go comfortably over the top.

30' - Another quick attacking move forward for Roma ends with Kolarov's inviting cross flashing across the six-yard box without anyone getting a touch!

32' - Ferreyra nearly exploits a mistake from Fazio, but the defender recovers enough to put the striker off and the shot is low and wide.

34' - End-to-end stuff! Roma run a clever corner routine but Radja's shot is charged down. Shakhtar counter quickly after the ball rolls free, but Florenzi makes a vital intervention in his own box to save the day!

36' - Perotti's shot from distance is dragged wide.

38' - Florenzi picks up the first booking of the night after pulling on Taison's shirt.

See more images in our dedicated match gallery.

SECOND HALF

52' - GOAL! YES! There's the breakthrough! A sublime pass from Strootman breaks open the defence, and Dzeko runs onto the ball before slotting home first-time past the onrushing Pyatov! 1-0!

YES! 55' - Another good chance, but Perotti's shot is straight at Pyatov.

63' - CLOSE! Perotti wins the ball brilliantly off Marlos to start the counter attack: a long ball from Strootman releases Radja, who cuts back for Dzeko... who shoots just inches wide!

67' - Another quick counter from #ASRoma, this time powered by Perotti. He releases Dzeko, but the striker is off balance as he shoots and fires wide!

73' - Kolarov plays in Gerson at the far post - the Brazilian opts to cut inside and his shot is blocked by the defender.

74' - Shakhtar bring off Stepanenko, who had just been booked, and replace him with Alan Patrick. An attacking sub from Fonseca.

78' - RED CARD! SHAKHTAR DOWN TO 10! Ordets hauls down Dzeko as the striker threatens to get clean through on goal! It's a free-kick and the defender is sent off!

80' - HUGE DRAMA! Ferreyra pushes a Roma ballboy over an advertising hoarding... sparking a dispute among the two sets of players. Only a yellow for the forward!

88' - A Shakhtar free-kick comes to nothing...

Key match statistics

See more game statistics in our dedicated match centre.

Social media reaction

Roma reaction

"The standing ovation I got today belongs to everyone, because we all gave our absolute everything right until the last minute. We deserve to be in the quarter-finals."

- Edin Dzeko

“I want Roma to keep dreaming. It was wonderful to see so many fans getting behind the team and suffering with us. It feels great to be involved in a match like this one tonight and I hope to enjoy plenty more nights like this. The only thing I want to avoid in the quarters is fear. Regardless of who we have to face, I want my team to go out there and play with the same spirit we saw tonight.”

- Eusebio Di Francesco

What's next?

The draw for the quarter-finals of the Champions League takes place on Friday afternoon.

The Giallorossi's next league game comes on Sunday, as they travel to face Crotone in an afternoon kick-off. With the international break then following, they then travel to face Bologna during the last weekend of the month.

The next home game at the Olimpico is against Fiorentina on April 7.

ROMA 1-0 SHAKHTAR

*2-2 on aggregate, Roma win on away goals*

Goalscorers: Dzeko (52')

Red card: Ordets (73')

Roma: Alisson; Florenzi, Manolas, Fazio, Kolarov; Strootman, De Rossi, Nainggolan; Cengiz (Gerson), Dzeko (El Shaarawy), Perotti.

Shakhtar: Pyatov, Butko, Stepanenko, Taison, Fred, Bernard, Marlos, Ordets, Ferreyra, Ismaily, Rakitskiy.