Adem Ljajic and Gervinho gave Roma a 2-1 win over Feyenoord, though Dutch fans caused play to be suspended.
The pressure was piling on Rudi Garcia after a series of stalemates, including the 1-1 first leg draw in Rome. They also had to prepare for Monday’s Scudetto showdown with Juventus and missed Douglas Maicon, Alessandro Florenzi, Victor Ibarbo, Juan Manuel Iturbe and Kevin Strootman. Feyenoord had Lex Immers and Luke Wilshire suspended, plus Sven van Beek sidelined.
Adem Ljajic and Gervinho gave Roma a 2-1 win over Feyenoord, though Dutch fans caused play to be suspended.
The pressure was piling on Rudi Garcia after a series of stalemates, including the 1-1 first leg draw in Rome. They also had to prepare for Monday’s Scudetto showdown with Juventus and missed Douglas Maicon, Alessandro Florenzi, Victor Ibarbo, Juan Manuel Iturbe and Kevin Strootman. Feyenoord had Lex Immers and Luke Wilshire suspended, plus Sven van Beek sidelined.
The tension was also high after Dutch hooligans ran riot in Rome, damaging historic monuments, so there were fears of reprisal attacks.
An audacious Francesco Totti lob was not far off target, then the captain’s free kick smacked against the base of the upright with Vermeer beaten.
Lukasz Skorupski was at full stretch on a Jens Toornstra long-range snapshot, but Daniele De Rossi used his elbow when blocking Colin Kazim-Richards on the follow-up and was fortunate nobody spotted that. There was a blow for the hosts when Kazim-Richards pulled up during an attack with a hamstring strain.
Totti’s back-heel flick sent Adem Ljajic through, but the young Serbian hit a fresh-air shot. Miralem Pjanic forced a save from close range and Totti’s follow-up was deflected wide.
The referee stopped play for a couple of minutes to have an inflatable banana removed from the pitch, as it was hurled at Roma players. He also spoke to both Coaches and the UEFA delegate.
Roma took the lead on the stroke of half-time, as a Pjanic cross found Ljajic at the back post unmarked for a splendid volley with the inside of the boot.
Feyenoord went down to 10 men on 54 minutes, as Te Vrede went studs-up on the inside of Kostas Manolas’ foot and the referee somewhat harshly opted for a straight red card. That decision sparked numerous objects being thrown on to the pitch, including a lighter that whizzed just past Turpin, and the official took the teams off.
Play was suspended for 15 minutes and within moments of resuming Feyenoord had scored. Substitute Elvis Manu, who came on during the break in play, pounced on a loose ball and out-sprinted the sluggish centre-backs.
The drama wasn’t over, as Roma immediately restored their advantage and got a crucial second away goal. It was a marvellous assist from the left, as Vasilis Torosidis rolled it across for Gervinho to tap in from six yards. That meant Feyenoord needed two goals to win on aggregate.
Skorupski was alert and ran off his line to block Manu again, then the same player just failed to get on the end of a cross looped into the box. The goalkeeper also tipped a Toornstra free kick over the bar, but the wind had been knocked out of Dutch sails.
Feyenoord 1-2 Roma (2-3 agg)
Scorers: Ljajic 45 (R), Manu 57 (F), Gervinho 60 (R)
Feyenoord: Vermeer; Boulahrouz (Manu 56), Van Beek, Kongolo, Nelom; El Ahmadi, Toornstra, Clasie; Karsdorp, Kazim-Richards (Te Vrede 30), Vilhena (Achahbar 84)
Roma: Skorupski; Manolas, Torosidis, Yanga-Mbiwa, Holebas; Keita, De Rossi, Pjanic (Nainggolan 72); Ljajic (Iturbe 72), Totti (Paredes 80), Gervinho
Ref: Turpin (FRA)
Sent off: Te Vrede 54 (F)