ROME: Goals by Andrea Belotti and Paulo Dybala earned AS Roma a 2-0 victory at home to FC Salzburg on Thursday (Feb 23) in their Europa League playoff second leg as the Italians clinched a spot in the last 16 with a 2-1 aggregate score.
Jose Mourinho’s side, trailing from the first leg after a late header by midfielder Nicolas Capaldo earned Salzburg a 1-0 win in Austria, attacked aggressively from the start in Rome.
They took a deserved lead after 33 minutes of pressure when Leonardo Spinazzola managed to get into the box and sent over a cross that deflected off a Salzburg defender towards Andrea Belotti who sent a low header into the net.
Paulo Dybala turned the tie around and sent the home crowd into raptures when he volleyed home Spinazzola’s cross for the second goal just before the break.
After a first half in which Roma had total domination, the visitors battled to get back into the match but they could not break down the hosts’ defence.
Roma are now unbeaten in their last 14 home games in the knockout stages of major European competitions excluding qualifiers.
The draw for the round of 16 will be held on Friday.
