Roma Miss Three Penalties in Europa League Defeat to Lille as Celtic Left Angered by VAR

Roma endured a night of misery from the penalty spot as they squandered three chances in a 1-0 Europa League defeat to Lille at the Stadio Olimpico.

The French side made a dream start when Hakon Arnar Haraldsson struck in the sixth minute, and they held on despite intense late pressure from the hosts.

Roma were handed a lifeline with ten minutes remaining when Aïssa Mandi was penalised for handball. Artem Dovbyk stepped up, but saw his first effort saved by Berke Özer. The referee ordered a retake after spotting encroachment by Lille defender Romain Perraud.

Dovbyk’s second attempt also ended in disappointment as Özer saved again, only for the spot-kick to be retaken once more after the goalkeeper was adjudged to have moved off his line too early.

Roma then changed penalty taker, with Matías Soulé given responsibility. But the outcome was the same, as Özer dived to his right to deny him in the 85th minute, sealing Lille’s victory and leaving Roma to rue a remarkable sequence of wasted opportunities.

Meanwhile, Celtic were left frustrated by a contentious VAR decision in their clash with Braga. Trailing 1-0, the Scottish champions thought they had equalised through Kelechi Iheanacho, only for the goal to be disallowed for handball.

Replays appeared to show the ball had struck the striker’s face rather than his arm, but after a lengthy review, VAR upheld the referee’s decision. Celtic manager Brendan Rodgers branded the call “baffling” as his side slipped to defeat.