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Home  » Sports » Woeful nine-man Roma miss out on Champions League group stage spot

Woeful nine-man Roma miss out on Champions League group stage spot

Last updated on: August 24, 2016 09:55 IST
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Edin Dzeko with his teammates of AS Roma protest to the the referee Szymon Marciniak during the UEFA Champions League qualifying playoff round second leg match against FC Porto at Stadio Olimpico in Rome on Tuesday

IMAGE: Edin Dzeko with his teammates of AS Roma protest to the the referee Szymon Marciniak during the UEFA Champions League qualifying playoff round second leg match against FC Porto at Stadio Olimpico in Rome on Tuesday. Photograph: Paolo Bruno/Getty Images

AS Roma suffered another European humiliation on Tuesday when they had two players sent off, lost 3-0 at home to Porto and missed out on the Champions League group stage.

After drawing 1-1 in Portugal in the first leg of the playoff tie, Roma started as favourites but never recovered after Felipe gave the visitors an eighth-minute lead.

They imploded completely when Daniele De Rossi and his replacement Emerson Palmieri were shown straight red cards either side of halftime.

Roma became the third successive Serie A team, and the sixth in the last eight seasons, to lose in the playoff round, leaving Italy with only two representatives -- Juventus and Napoli -- in Thursday's group-stage draw.

Their initial confidence was shattered when Felipe headed Porto in front from Otavio's cross but the real trouble began in the 39th minute when midfielder De Rossi was sent off for a high tackle on Maxi Pereira.

Amid angry Roma protests, he was replaced by Palmieri who lasted only 11 minutes before he was dismissed for a shocking lunge.

Roma goalkeeper Wojciech Szczesny booked his place in rogue's gallery with a reckless charge out of his goal which allowed Miguel Layun to slot Porto's second into an empty net.

Felipe (left) with his teammates of FC Porto celebrates after scoring the opening goal during the UEFA Champions League qualifying playoff round second leg match agaist AS Roma

IMAGE: Felipe (left) with his teammates of FC Porto celebrates after scoring the opening goal during the UEFA Champions League qualifying playoff round second leg match agaist AS Roma. Photograph: Paolo Bruno/Getty Images

Almost immediately, Jesus Corona turned his marker inside out before scoring the third.

Monaco joined Porto when they beat Villarreal 1-0 after a late penalty by Fabinho sealed a 3-1 aggregate win, and Legia Warsaw, Celtic and Ludogorets Razgrad also qualified, although none of them won on the night.

Ten-man Legia drew 1-1 at home with Irish part-timers Dundalk, but progressed 3-1 on aggregate to become the first Polish side to reach the group stage of Europe's premier club competition for 20 years.

Former European champions Celtic squeezed past Hapoel Beer Sheva 5-4 on aggregate despite a 2-0 loss in Israel and Ludogorets held Viktoria Plzen 2-2 away to secure a 4-2 aggregate win.

Dundalk, beaten 2-0 at home, made a brave effort in Poland and went ahead when Robert Benson thundered home an unstoppable volley in the 19th minute.

The Irish side were given further hope when Legia's Adam Hlousek was sent off in the 67th minute, but they were caught on the break as Michal Kucharczyk levelled in stoppage time, ending their dream.

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Source: REUTERS
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