ROME: Goalkeeper Wojciech Szczesny was the hero as unconvincing Roma sneaked into the last 16 of the Champions League with a scoreless draw at home to BATE Borisov on Wednesday.
On-loan Arsenal 'keeper Szczesny has claimed throughout this season he aims to return to the Emirates.
And on this performance the Pole may have just convinced Gunners boss Arsene Wenger of his value after denying BATE on two clear chances in a dramatic second half at the Stadio Olimpico.
Szczesny admitted Roma fans had been right to react angrily at the end of a torrid affair, saying: "Maybe it wasn't the most beautiful (performance), but we've qualified and that's what's important.
"They (fans) have the right to be frustrated. They pay to come here and see their team win and play good football, but I think once they go home and realise we're still in the Champions League they will feel happy."
The result left Roma in second place in Group E, albeit eight points behind champions Barcelona with the Italians beating Bayer Leverkusen to second spot because of their better head to head record.
BATE coach Aleksandr Yermakovich, who saw his team finish last, said: "Right up to the last minute we hoped to win, but Szczesny pulled off a couple of great saves for Roma.
"We're disappointed because there wasn't a lot between Roma and us but we're also quite happy because we've made improvements from last season."
Like Szczesny, under-fire Roma coach Rudi Garcia preferred to see the glass half full.
"We had 24 attempts on goal and obviously if you score, it takes a huge amount of pressure off. I don't think the team played that badly," said Garcia.
"When the goals don't come, you have to be intelligent and play to make sure you don't concede any goals.
"We've achieved our first objective of the season, which is to qualify for the last 16 of the Champions League."
Roma welcomed the Belarusian champions knowing defeat would end their bid to reach the knockout phase for the first time since the 2010-2011 campaign.
The hosts suffered a serious setback when Gervinho pulled up in the warm-up and was replaced by Juan Iturbe, an ominous sign given Rom have failed to win a game of any kind since Gervinho and Mohamed Salah's respective injuries.
The Gervinho setback certainly appeared to have an effect: the hosts failed to spark in a listless opening half which they dominated by creating a series of half-chances.
Roma enjoyed a promising start to second half, only for BATE to threaten at least twice on the counter.
Minutes after the restart Miralem Pjanic found Edin Dzeko with a short pass just outside the area but an alert Sergei Chernik was out quickly to block with his legs what was Roma's best chance thus far.
It finally jolted the Olimpico into song, although Roma never really managed to lift a crowd of only 29,489 -- many fans still staying away amid an ongoing boycott over recently-introduced security measures.
Minutes later Nainggolan found Dzeko to the left of goal and although the striker's path was blocked by Maksim Zhavnerchik, the Bosnian turned, got himself into position and shot wide of Chernik's post.
Roma had the momentum and when Dzeko got the ball through a gaggle of defenders to Florenzi, the Roma right-back hit a deflected effort wide from a tight angle as Chernik came out to block.
Roma's bid was almost completely derailed on 68 minutes when Szczesny pulled off a stunning point-blank save on Mikhail Gordeichuk after he connected with Maksim Golodko's weighted cross on 68 minutes.
At the other end Chernik came out to intercept a cross for Dzeko and Pjanic's follow up strike was spectacularly cleared off the line by Nemanja Milunovic.
Szczesny saved the day again on a rising angled strike from Filip Mladenovic, the danger cleared only when Igor Stasevich's close-range shot was blocked.
Nainggolan and Salah late chances go amiss and Roma hung, but the memory of clinching their last 16 ticket will come with the sound of jeers and whistles that rang round the stadium at full-time.
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