Roma snatch late victory against Athletic Bilbao; Tottenham lose to AZ Alkmaar

MILAN: A stoppage-time goal earned AS Roma a 2-1 home win over Athletic Bilbao in the first leg of the Europa League last-16 tie on Thursday as Lazio snatched a late 2-1 win at Viktoria Plzen, despite finishing the game with nine men.

Bodo/Glimt took a major step towards the quarterfinals with a 3-0 win over Olympiacos and Eintracht Frankfurt secured a 2-1 win at Ajax Amsterdam, while Tottenham Hotspur lost 1-0 at AZ Alkmaar.

Roma wasted two decent chances to take a first-half lead. Artem Dovbyk found a way past the Bilbao defence and into the area but lost his footing as he went to strike the ball and Paulo Dybala thundered a shot off the crossbar.

Bilbao took the lead five minutes after the break when Inaki Williams headed in from close range, but Roma was soon level when Angelino’s shot went in off the post after a cut-back from Zeki Celik.

Bilbao went down to 10 men five minutes from time after Yeray Alvarez received a second booking, and Roma snatched the late winner when Eldor Shomurodov netted with a shot on the turn.

Spurs went behind in the 18th minute when Bergvall put the ball into his own net from a corner and the visitor failed to register a shot on target in the opening half.

Bergvall tried to make amends after the break, hitting a shot from distance just wide but that was as close as Tottenham came to an equalizer.

Plzen fell behind to Lazio after 18 minutes from an Alessio Romagnoli header but the Czech side drew level after the break when the unmarked Rafiu Durosinmi headed home from close range.

Lazio had Nicolo Rovella sent off and Samuel Gigot also saw red in added time, but Gustav Isaksen curled a shot into the top corner in the 98th minute to give the Italian side victory.

Bodo/Glimt was in front after 13 minutes thanks to a Konstantinos Tzolakis own goal, the Olympiacos keeper knocking Jostein Gundersen’s header into his own net after the ball bounced down off the crossbar.

The host doubled its lead on the stroke of halftime when Kasper Hoegh tapped in Ole Blomberg’s cross and Hoegh was on target after the break with another close-range finish.

The Norwegian side will fancy their chances of advancing when they head to Greece with a three-goal cushion over last season’s Conference League winners.

Ajax went ahead in the 10th minute through a Brian Brobbey header but Frankfurt levelled when Hugo Larsson netted with a powerful strike from distance which took a slight deflection off Brobbey.

Frankfurt grabbed the winner 20 minutes from time, Ellyes Skhiri finishing off a pass from Ansgar Knauff.

Rangers won 3-1 at Fenerbahce thanks to a double from Vaclav Cerny.

Olympique Lyonnais secured a 3-1 victory at Romanian side Steaua Bucharest, Malick Fofana netting twice in the final four minutes. Agencies

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