Football story by Brian Watters, Thu, 16 Mar 2006 18:48:00 GMT


Jimmy Floyd Hasselbaink and Australian goalkeeper Mark Schwarzer helped Middlesbrough go into the quarterfinals of the Uefa Cup on away goals despite losing 2-1 to AS Roma at the Stadio Olympico. Middlesbrough had earlier won the first leg 1-0.

Hasselbaink headed in a Stewart Downing cross from the left wing to put Middlesbrough ahead in the second leg of the Uefa Cup tie before a determined fight back by Roma saw them first equalize and then take the lead through Brazilian striker Amantino Mancini who was denied a hat-trick by Schwarzer.

Needing to score at least three goals in order to go through to the quarter finals, Roma equalized in the 42nd minute through Mancini to give the host a chance of over turning the score. The start of second half saw Schwarzer make a string of great saves to deny Daniele De Rossi and Mancini though Roma went on to take the lead on 65th minute when Mancini beat Schwarzer from the penalty spot to score his second of the game. The last 25 minutes saw a flurry of attacks by Roma who were desperate for the third goal and which saw Philippe Mexes sent off in the injury time.

Boro manager Steve McClaren was very pleased with his keeper saying, "In defining moments, Mark made vital saves at the right time and that is what we needed. He kept a clean sheet at the Riverside, which more or less put us in the driving seat and won us this tie."

Meanwhile in another fixture Hungarian outfit Rapid Bucharest went through despite losing 3-1 to Hamburg and Seville beat Lille 2-0 to advance to the quarterfinals.

More Sporting Stuff