Paris, Roma, Benfica, Ajax seal last-eight spots
Wednesday, February 24, 2016
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The UEFA Youth League quarter-final lineup is complete after four more sides booked their place on Wednesday, with Roma and Benfica holding their nerve on penalties.
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- Roma, semi-finalists last term, overcome PSV on penalties
- Italian team now meet Paris, victors over Middlesbrough
- Ajax claim biggest win of round against ten-man Lyon
- Benfica and Chelsea are only sides to reach quarter-finals in all three seasons
- Quarter-final lineup complete
Paris Saint-Germain 1-0 Middlesbrough
The hosts had the better of things throughout in the Paris suburbs but struggled to break down Middlesbrough's committed defence. Jean-Kévin Augustin eventually found a way through, collecting Christopher Nkunku's through ball just before half-time and firing in. The visitors continued to play on the break, Harrison Chapman having two good chances, but one goal proved enough for Paris. Next up: Roma.
Lyon 0-3 Ajax
The biggest win of the round came at Lyon, where Ajax put their hosts to the sword with a clinical display. They were 2-0 up inside 25 minutes, Abdelhak Nouri teeing up Donny van de Beek for the opener before Van de Beek returned the favour. Centre-back Léon Bergsma sealed it six minutes after half-time from a Nouri corner before Lyon's Gédéon Kalulu saw red. Ajax travel to holders Chelsea in the last eight.
PSV Eindhoven 2-2 Roma (Roma win 3-1 on pens)
Trailing to Steven Bergwijn's opener, the Giallorossi levelled through Riccardo Marchizza's spot kick, awarded for a trip on the dangerous Sadiq Umar. Edoardo Soleri then deftly flicked in Umar's cutback, only for substitute Matthias Verreth to sweep in Martijn Berden's ball across goal. It went drastically wrong for PSV in the shoot-out, though, as they failed to convert any of their first three efforts.
Příbram 1-1 Benfica (Benfica win 5-3 on pens)
The Czech team threatened a shock when Karsten Ayong cancelled out Oliver Šarkić's first-half strike with five minutes left. A fortnight ago they knocked out CSKA Moskva in similar circumstances, equalising and then winning 5-4 on penalties. André Ferreira denied Štěpán Holý to make sure there was no repeat, Benfica successfully dispatching five out of five attempts. A trip to Real Madrid is their reward. Příbram are out despite not losing a game in their maiden campaign in the competition.