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.

But it was Steve McClaren's side who claimed the prize on away goals after a performance packed with character.

Boro had gone out at the same stage of the competition last year to Sporting Lisbon, who went on to dispose of Newcastle in the quarter-finals despite falling behind 2-0 on aggregate.

But Roma's comeback fell just short as McClaren, in front of watching England boss Sven-Goran Eriksson, was able to tick off another ambition achieved in front of 3,400 ecstatic travelling fans, for whom the memories of last night's stabbings were forgotten.

When Boro mounted their first meaningful attack on 32 minutes, winger Stewart Downing found just enough space to deliver an inviting cross to the near post, where Hasselbaink expertly glanced it past goalkeeper Gianluca Curci after stealing in front of Philippe Mexes.

There was something irresistible about the move from which Roma levelled on the night. De Rossi linking with Cristian Chivu before Rodrigo Taddei pulled the ball back for Mancini to fire past Schwarzer in the 43rd minute.

Schwarzer was Boro's saviour on 53 minutes when he palmed away Mancini's volley as it reared up off the pitch, but he made an even better stop after being left completely exposed three minutes later.

De Rossi looked suspiciously offside when the ball fell to him in front of goal with just the keeper to beat, but Schwarzer dived full length to deny him.

Such was Boro's need that Yakubu was sacrificed for midfielder Ray Parlour on 58 minutes, and he had an immediate impact, although not the desired one when he felled Roma replacement Stefano Okaka and conceded a 66th-minute penalty.

Brazilian Mancini obliged from the spot to leave the visitors facing an intensely difficult conclusion.

Lee Cattermole hacked away the Brazilian's 75th-minute free-kick at the near post, and seven minutes from time Chivu went down in the box, but no whistle followed.

Schwarzer had to keep out Mexes' 85th-minute header from a Taddei corner, and the Frenchman's departure in injury-time for sarcastically applauding his booking for a foul signalled the end of the home side's brave challenge.

ROMA: Curci, Kuffour, Bovo, Mexes, Chivu (Panucci 86), Taddei, Alvarez (Aquilani 71), Mancini, Dacourt (Okaka Chuka 63), De Rossi, Perrotta.

MIDDLESBROUGH: Schwarzer, Davies (Queudrue 45), Riggott, Southgate, Pogatetz, Mendieta, Boateng, Cattermole, Downing, Hasselbaink, Yakubu (Parlour 58).

Ref: Tom Ovrebo (Norway).