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Lyon outguns Roma in high-octane encounter to reach quarter-final

Reuters / Alessandro Bianchi Livepic

In the end, Lyon simply scored one more goal than Roma.

Despite losing 2-1 at the Stadio Olimpico on Thursday, the French side added one away goal to the four it managed at home last week and dispatched its Italian counterpart 5-4 on aggregate to reach the Europa League quarter-final.

It's the second time in four seasons that Lyon has qualified as one of the remaining eight in the second-tier European competition.

Eight magnificent stops from goalkeeper Anthony Lopes ensured the visitor would not concede more than twice, as his pivotal double save halfway through the second leg proved to be his biggest intervention on a busy night for the Portuguese.

But it was another strike from Mouctar Diakhaby that helped settle the tie. As he did in the first leg, the 20-year-old headed in from a corner in the 16th minute to open the scoring.

Roma's response was instantaneous.

Kevin Strootman bundled home the equaliser 105 seconds after Diakhaby's tally to give life to the host.

It took a 60th-minute own goal from Lucas Tousart to boost Roma's comeback hopes, and on another night it might have happened. Edin Dzeko appeared to put the capital club into a definitive lead on away goals when he banged in a rebound from close range, but the linesman incorrectly ruled the initial play offside.

Lyon had its own chances to kill the tie on the counter-attack, but the five goals it scored were ultimately enough.

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