UEL: Roma Clinch Europa League Knockout Spot Despite Nervy Second-Half Display

Roma secured a 2-0 win over Eintracht Frankfurt to book their place in the Europa League knockout stages, with goals from Angelino and Eldor Shomurodov sealing the victory.

Roma, led by manager Claudio Ranieri, pulled off a stunning upset against Eintracht Frankfurt, securing their spot in the Europa League knockout stage. The win marked Roma's seventh consecutive victory at the Stadio Olimpico, as the Giallorossi advanced to the play-off round with an impressive performance.

The first half was largely dominated by Roma, who created several scoring opportunities. Frankfurt goalkeeper Kevin Trapp was forced to make a quick reaction to prevent Artem Dovbyk from latching onto a through ball. Meanwhile, Angelino squandered a promising chance with a shot from inside the penalty area that flashed wide of the target.

Roma's relentless pressure eventually paid off when Angelino made amends for his earlier miss. The left-back arrived at the back post to volley home Gianluca Mancini's cross, giving Roma a well-deserved lead. The goal marked a turning point in the match, as Roma's confidence grew, and they went on to secure a crucial victory over the former champions.

Vinciamo noi e accediamo ai playoff di Europa League 🔜

Decidono i gol di e Shomurodov e Angelino ⚽️ ⚽️#RomaEintracht #UEL pic.twitter.com/jvL6YUvxlR

— AS Roma (@OfficialASRoma) January 30, 2025

Roma's performance in the second half was a stark contrast to their impressive first-half display. Clearly affected by nerves, the home side struggled to replicate their earlier form, looking like a shadow of their former selves. However, midway through the second half, Roma managed to regain their composure and find some much-needed breathing room with a crucial second goal.

The goal was scored by Eldor Shomurodov, who capitalized on a mix-up in the Eintracht defense to sneak the ball past goalkeeper Kevin Trapp. This goal proved to be a decisive moment in the match, as Roma's victory ensured their progression to the knockout stages. Had they suffered defeat, Roma would have been eliminated from the competition due to results elsewhere.

Despite Roma's eventual victory, they did come close to adding to their tally. Paulo Dybala's effort from the edge of the box was blocked, while Shomurodov narrowly missed out on scoring his second goal of the night. However, Roma's two goals proved sufficient to secure their spot in the knockouts, where they will face either Ferencvaros or FC Porto in the play-offs.

The 2024/25 #UEL league phase ✅ pic.twitter.com/BGnoQwzie1

— UEFA Europa League (@EuropaLeague) January 30, 2025

Eintracht Frankfurt, despite suffering defeat, managed to remain within the top eight, ensuring they will bypass the play-offs and rejoin the competition in the last 16. This provides the German side with a more direct route to the latter stages of the tournament, as they bid to claim the UEFA Europa League title.