Valencia achieve place in KO stage

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DONETSK, Ukraine -- Valencia qualified for the knockout phase of the Champions League after twice coming from a goal down to claim a 2-2 draw at Shakhtar Donetsk in Group D on Tuesday.

The outcome gave Valencia, who won their first three games, 10 points and ensured progress. AS Roma are second on seven after a 1-1 home draw with Olympiakos Piraeus, who, like Shakhtar, have two points.

In a see-saw match, Donetsk relied on their Brazilian imports, with Jadson drawing first blood two minutes into the game by curling a free kick over the wall.

Shakhtar had more opportunities soon after, with Brazilian Matuzalem hitting a post in the ninth minute and Julius Aghahowa denied by Valencia keeper Santiago Canizares four minutes later.

Fernando Morientes evened the score at the 18 minute mark when he reacted sharply to a loose ball as the Shakhtar defense failed to clear a free kick.

Fernandinho put the home side ahead again after 28 minutes when he fired in a drive from more than 20 meters that eluded Canizares.

The visitors roared back in the 67th minute when an unmarked Robert Ayallah easily headed home a corner.

Shakhtar pressed in the late stages but had few real scoring opportunities.

Valencia's David Navarro was carried off on a stretcher after suffering a serious nose injury in a collision involving several players in his own area.

AS Roma closed in on a place in the knockout stages when they drew 1-1 with Olympiakos on Tuesday.

The result left the Serie A side second in Group D with seven points, three behind leaders Valencia, but five ahead of Olympiakos and Shakhtar Donetsk with two rounds to play.

Roma, who have never qualified for the knockout stage before, were 1-0 down at halftime after Olympiakos defender Julio Cesar headed in a corner and Francesco Totti missed a chance to equalize from the penalty spot.

But the Roma captain made up for his mistake midway through the second half, when he latched on to Rodrigo Taddei's pass before angling a shot past visiting goalie Antonios Nikopolidis.

Even before the game, Olympiakos's chances of causing an upset at Rome's Olympic Stadium seemed slim.

The Greek side had never won an away match in the Champions League -- a run of 29 games -- but went close to taking the lead when Roma keeper Doni parried a Rivaldo shot, and the ball bounced off defender Cristian Chivu to roll just wide of the post.

They got their reward for a lively start, however, when Rivaldo curled in a corner for Julio Cesar to head in after 19 minutes.

Roma were unlucky not to be awarded a penalty when defender Michal Zewlakow used a hand to deflect Max Tonetto's shot away from goal.

Portuguese referee Olegario Benquerenca got a better view of the action shortly after the half hour mark, however, when he gave Roma a penalty for Julio Cesar's clumsy challenge on Taddei.

Totti stepped up to the spot, but Antonios Nikopolidis reacted well to turn his effort round the post.

In the end it was Totti who grabbed the equalizer in the 66th minute to make up for his missed penalty.

Taddei flighted the ball into the area, the Roma captain brought it down, turned his marker, and angled a shot past Nikopolidis.

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