Leverkusen survive Roma scare to reach Dublin finale in dramatic fashion
The visiting Giallorossi started impressively this evening as Pellegrini slipped in Lukaku inside 4 minutes. Matej Kovár stood firm in the one-on-one duel. Leverkusen steadied as time wore on and the fingertips of Mile Svilar kept Palacios at bay from range. Roma's night got that bit trickier as Leonardo Spinazzola was forced off through injury in the 21st minute with Nicola Zalewski coming in.
Die Werkself ramped up the pressure approaching the half hour point. But for Mile Svilar's brilliance, the tie could've been decided. Although Palacios cracked the post, several wonderful saves repelled Frimpong, then both Adli and Hložek on the rebound. The Italian club snatched a lifeline before the break in what was a rare foray upfield - Jonathan Tah needlessly hauling Sardar Azmoun to the floor. Leandro Paredes smashed the resulting spot-kick down the middle.
After the break, Roma threw caution to the wind and set up in a 3-5-2 formation. Although Amine Adli whistled wide first, Stephan El Shaarawy brought the best out of Kovár who parried to safety. Leverkusen spurned a guilt-edged opportunity with the subsequent attack. A three on two enabled Frimpong to slip in Hofmann. The German's effort smothered by another sublime Svilar intervention.
Suddenly lightening struck twice for Roma. Another cross. Another penalty. Adam Hložek the guilty party as ball struck hand in the box. Paredes repeated the dose firing into the lower left corner from the whitewash. With parity on aggregate restored, the game hinged on a knife-edge. This time fortune favoured the hosts. Alejandro Grimaldo's wasn't dealt with by Svilar, catching Gianluca Mancini unawares and trickling into his own net.
With the 48-game unbeaten run on the brink once again, Josip Stanišić arrived on cue off the bench. The Croatia cutting inside his marker to fire a 97th minute dagger into the Roma net. The BayArena erupted at the full-time whistle as Bayer Leverkusen march forth to the Dublin finale in spectacular fashion.