Liverpool survive scare as Roma crash in Europa League

Liverpool survived a big scare against Romanian underdogs Unirea Urziceni on Thursday night before securing a 3-1 victory that takes them into the Europa League round of 16.

Serie A giants Roma, however, crashed out of the competition after losing 3-2 at home to Greek side Panathinaikos, while reigning UEFA Cup holders Shakhtar Donetsk were eliminated by English Premier League side Fulham.

Liverpool led 1-0 on aggregate following a tense first leg at Anfield last week but fell behind in the 19th minute at the Steaua Stadium in Bucharest when Joao Bruno Fernandes rose above a statuesque away defence to convert Razvan Paduretu’s corner with a firm header.

Rafael Benitez’s side drew level 11 minutes later, though, with Javier Mascherano dispatching a fierce 25-yard effort into the bottom-left corner.

Dutch winger Ryan Babel completed the turnaround four minutes before the interval with a deft control and finish before captain Steven Gerrard swept home early in the second period to seal victory.

“I think it was a difficult game and the pitch was terrible so we knew it could be tough and very demanding for the players,” said Benitez, who also revealed that centre-back Martin Skrtel had sustained a suspected broken toe.

“We conceded a goal and we then had to be calm and just keep playing our game.”

Roma had seen a 20-match unbeaten run come to an end when they lost 3-2 at Panathinaikos in the first leg but they drew level on aggregate in the 11th minute at the Stadio Olimpico thanks to a trademark free-kick by John Arne Riise.

The visitors took control of the tie in a dazzling six-minute spell prior to the break, with Djibril Cisse — the match-winner in the first leg — scoring twice either side of a fine effort by Sotiris Ninis.

Daniele De Rossi replied in vain for Roma in the second half.

Fulham produced perhaps the shock of the evening after securing a hard-fought 1-1 draw at Ukrainian heavyweights Shakhtar to set up a last-16 meeting with either Juventus or Ajax.

Holding a slim 2-1 advantage going into the game, Fulham weathered heavy pressure from their hosts before grabbing a crucial away goal in the 33rd minute when Brede Hangeland headed home Damien Duff’s free-kick.

Rodrigues Jadson drew Mircea Lucescu’s men level 21 minutes from time but, despite dominating the second half, they could not muster a goal to force extra time.

Atletico Madrid, meanwhile, needed a last-minute goal from star striker Diego Forlan to win 2-1 at Galatasaray and snatch a 3-2 victory over both legs.

Elsewhere, Hamburg went through on away goals despite losing 3-2 at PSV Eindhoven in a game in which both sides finished with 10 men, Anderlecht thrashed Athletic Bilbao 4-0 to progress 5-1 on aggregate and Marseille completed a 6-2 aggregate victory over FC Copenhagen.

“I’m pleased with the result,” said Marseille coach Didier Deschamps.

“It was a good evening, with no injuries, and we were able to keep some players warm on the bench.”

In Thursday’s 2005GMT kick-offs, Juventus take a 2-1 lead into their home game with Ajax, while Valencia will attempt to overturn a 1-0 deficit against Belgian side Club Brugge and last season’s beaten finalists Werder Bremen host FC Twente trailing 1-0.

Liverpool will face the winner of the tie between Lille and Fenerbahce, with Panathinaikos awaiting whichever side prevails in the Standard Liege-Red Bull Salzburg clash.

Benfica, who defeated Hertha Berlin 4-0 on Tuesday to round off a 5-1 aggregate win, will play Marseille.