Roma rocked as battling Boro complete the Italian job

MIDDLESBROUGH emerged from a major test of their European credentials with a UEFA Cup quarter-final place after surviving a major scare in Rome.

Jimmy Floyd Hasselbaink had put the Teessiders 2-0 ahead on aggregate with an excellent 32nd-minute header, but a double from Alessandro Mancini either side of half-time the second from the penalty spot left the result in doubt right up to the final whistle.

Despite being ravaged by injuries to their strikers, the Italians made a real fist of it, and came desperately close, with both Mark Schwarzer and the woodwork saving Boro.