Champions League

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Champions League | Group Stage

Nov 4, 2015 at 7.45pm UK

Roma
3-2
B. Leverkusen Bayer Leverkusen

Salah (2'), Dzeko (29'), Pjanic (80' pen.)

FT(HT: 2-0)

Mehmedi (46'), Hernandez (51')
Toprak (79')

Late Miralem Pjanic penalty gives Roma victory over Bayer Leverkusen

By Colm Hayes, Reporter | 04 November 2015

Roma edge past Bayer Leverkusen in a 3-2 victory courtesy of a late Miralem Pjanic penalty, having squandered a two-goal advantage from the opening half.

A late Miralem Pjanic penalty has given Roma all three points in their Champions League clash against Bayer Leverkusen, after the home side had relinquished a two-goal lead.

Roma's midfielder from Bosnia-Herzegovina Miralem Pjanic (L) celebrates with teammates after scoring a penalty during the UEFA Champions League football match AS Roma vs Bayer Leverkusen on November 4, 201 © Getty Images

Roma took the lead immediately in the tie as Mohamed Salah controlled Edin Dzeko's through-ball before firing past Leverkusen keeper Bernd Leno in the second minute.

The following 25 minutes saw a Leno clearance hit Edin Dzeko before bouncing narrowly wide, and a Javier Hernandez header that just missed the target.

Roma's midfielder from Egypt Mohamed Salah celebrates after scoring during the UEFA Champions League football match AS Roma vs Bayer Leverkusen on November 4, 2015 © Getty Images

Dzeko doubled Roma's lead in the 29th minute as the Leverkusen defence was split once more, this time by a Radja Nainggolan pass which found the Bosnian striker who put a measured effort beyond Leno.

Dzeko had the opportunity to hand Roma a three-goal advantage straight after his strike but the forward spurned the chance to notch his brace by shooting wide from close range after a Salah cross.

Roma's forward from Bosnia-Herzegovina Edin Dzeko celebrates after scoring during the UEFA Champions League football match AS Roma vs Bayer Leverkusen on November 4, 2015 © Getty Images

The restart saw an immediate response from Bayer, as Admir Mehmedi fired past on-loan Arsenal stopper Wojciech Szczesny after being found in space outside the area by Kevin Kampl with one minute of the half gone.

Karim Bellarabi, who replaced Stefan Kiessling at the break, made an instant impact as his through-ball was slid home by Javier Hernandez in the 51st minute, as the Mexican took his Champions League tally to four strikes with the equaliser, just one behind top scorer Cristiano Ronaldo.

Leverkusen's Mexican forward Javier Hernandez (R) celebrates with teammates after scoring during the UEFA Champions League football match AS Roma vs Bayer Leverkusen on November 4, 2015 © Getty Images

A scramble from a Roma corner resulted in a chance for Salah at Leverkusen's back post, but the Egyptian was shoved to the turf by Omer Toprak before he could get a strike away.

Toprak saw red for the incident, conceding a penalty for the foul which was dispatched by Miralem Pjanic to put the Italian side back in front in the 80th minute.

Leverkusen's Turkish defender Omer Toprak (bottom) receives a yellow card from referee Serguey Karasev during the UEFA Champions League football match AS Roma vs Bayer Leverkusen on November 4, 2015 © Getty Images