Roma beat Valencia and advance

Jonathan Roorda - 5 December 2006 22:45

AS Roma logo

ROME/ATHENS, Dec 5 (SW) - AS Roma earned themselves a spot in the second round of the Champions League following a narrow but sufficient win over Valencia. Shakhtar Donetsk were held to a 1-1 draw at Olympiakos.

<b>AS Roma - Valencia</b> 1-0

Roma needed a good result against Valencia to secure a spot in the second round and were on their way to doing just that when Christian Panucci opened the score in the 13th minute.

The captain - replacing the absent Francesco Totti - stood at the far post when a Taddei free kick came his way, and was allowed to easily head in from short range.

Valencia did have chances in the second half but failed to take advantage. This allows Roma to finish in second position in Group D, having earned ten points from six games.

<b>Olympiakos - Shakhtar Donetsk</b> 1-1

Olympiakos had nothing to fight for but Shakhtar could still conquer a place in the second round. A win was needed but the Ukranians also needed for Valencia to beat AS Roma.

After 27 minutes in the Greek capital city, Shakthar went one up as Matuzalem headed past goalkeeper Nikopolidis from a Jadson Rodriguez corner kick for 0-1.

After another 27 minutes however, in the 54th, the Greeks equalised. Nery Alberto Castillo struck from about 14 meters to increase the gap between Shakhtar and the second round of the Champions League.

As Roma won their match against Valencia, Shakhtar would have gone to the UEFA Cup no matter what the outcome of this match would be.

Neither side managed to score again and end this campaign with six points while Olympiakos have three.