9-man Roma misses out on Champions League after Porto loss
MILAN — Roma failed to reach the Champions League group stage after having two men sent off in a 3-0 defeat at home to Porto in the second leg of their playoff on Tuesday.
Roma had drawn the first leg 1-1 after Thomas Vermaelen was sent off and it was again made to pay for poor discipline as Daniele De Rossi was dismissed in the 39th minute and Emerson Palmieri, followed him five minutes after halftime.
Despite the numerical disadvantage, Roma pushed hard but could not cancel out Felipe Augusto’s early opener and two goals in as many minutes from Miguel Layun and Jesus Corona sealed matters.
“We had prepared for it well, but we started badly,” Roma midfielder Kevin Strootman said. “We played one game in 10 and the other in nine. It could be a mental problem because physically we are fine. We knew what we had to do on the pitch, but we didn’t do it. We didn’t play well and I don’t know why.”