SOCCER: Cambiaghi late show sinks Roma as Bologna join Villa and Porto in Europa League quarters

ROME – Bologna reached the Europa League quarter-finals on Thursday after Nicolo Cambiaghi scored late in extra time, giving them a 4-3 second-leg win over AS Roma and a 5-4 aggregate victory.

Bologna went ahead in the 22nd minute when Jonathan Rowe finished a setup from Santiago Castro, but Roma equalized 10 minutes later as Evan Ndicka powered in a header from a corner. Federico Bernardeschi restored Bologna’s aggregate lead with a penalty before halftime after Stephan El Shaarawy fouled Nadir Zortea, and Castro made it 3-1 shortly after the break. Roma fought back late with a Donyell Malen penalty in the 69th minute and Lorenzo Pellegrini’s goal 10 minutes from time, forcing extra time. Cambiaghi then scored in the second period of extra time to seal Bologna’s progress.

In England, Aston Villa defeated Lille 2-0 at Villa Park to complete a 3-0 aggregate win. Captain John McGinn opened the scoring in the 54th minute, and Leon Bailey added a second goal near the end, sending Villa to their third consecutive European quarter-final.

Real Betis overturned a first-leg deficit with a 4-0 home win against Panathinaikos, securing a 4-1 aggregate victory. Aitor Ruibal and Sofyan Amrabat scored before halftime, while Cucho Hernandez and Antony added second-half goals. Betis will face Braga in the quarter-finals.

In Portugal, FC Porto beat VfB Stuttgart 2-0 to claim a 4-1 aggregate win. William Gomes opened the scoring, and Victor Froholdt added a second in the 72nd minute. Stuttgart’s chances ended when Nikolas Nartey received a second yellow card in the 77th minute. Porto will meet Nottingham Forest in the quarter-finals, after the English side advanced on penalties against FC Midtjylland.

-Tommy Lund in Gdansk; editing by Pritha Sarkar/Reuters