Roma take narrow lead over Leverkusen in Europa League semi

ROME: AS Roma grabbed a 1-0 home victory over Bayer Leverkusen in their Europa League semi-final first leg on Thursday (May 11) thanks to 20-year-old Edoardo Bove's second-half goal.

Roma youth product Bove stabbed in the winner on the rebound in the 63rd minute after Tammy Abraham's shot was saved by Leverkusen keeper Lukas Hradecky.

The visitors came close to an equaliser towards the end of a scrappy second half but Jeremie Frimpong's 87th-minute shot was blocked on the line.

Roma, bidding to win back-to-back European titles under coach Jose Mourinho following last season's Europa Conference League triumph, travel to Leverkusen next week for the return leg.

The winners will face Juventus or Sevilla in the final.