Edin Dzeko credited his Roma team-mates for a patient performance as they dumped Shakhtar Donetsk out of the Champions League.
A 1-0 win, after a 2-1 defeat in Kharkiv, took Roma through on away goals as Dzeko scored seven minutes into the second half with the game s first chance of note.
And although the Serie A side were outplayed for long periods at Stadio Olimpico, the Bosnian praised the way his side did not panic before eventually finding the breakthrough.
It was a great night for me, for Roma and the whole club, Dzeko told UEFA.com. We deserved this.
We were patient. We knew that one goal could see us reach the quarter-finals. We scored that goal and then we did everything all together.
I did [think a second effort was in] but the ball somehow went wide of the goal. That [one that went in] was the golden one.
I m proud of this team because I think we knocked out a very strong team.
Scenes at full time as Roma reach quarter-finals for the first time since 2008.
— UEFA Champions League (@ChampionsLeague)
He added: Everyone deserves a standing ovation because we all gave absolutely everything, right up until the last minute. We deserve to go through, to be in the quarter-finals.
And Roma legend Francesco Totti also congratulated his former side on Twitter.
A fantastic result, a fantastic Roma: among the best eight sides in Europe, he posted. We push forward onto the next round.
