CFR Cluj-Napoca 1 - 3 AS Roma

Brighi brace seals progress

Updated: November 26, 2008, 8:00 AM UK

Roma put themselves on the brink of qualification for the last 16 of the Champions League with a comfortable victory over Cluj in Transylvania.

The Italians were two up early on through Matteo Brighi and a Francesco Totti free-kick. Yssouf Kone gave Cluj hope by pulling one back before half-time but Brighi's second killed off their challenge.

The victory, coupled with Chelsea's 1-1 draw in Bordeaux, puts Roma a point clear at the top of Group A needing only a draw from their last match against the French side to qualify.

The home side, who beat Roma in the Italian capital in the opening round of Group A matches, had the first real chance with Kone's shot across goal kept out well by Alexander Doni.

But with 11 minutes gone the visitors took the lead through Brighi. Cluj keeper Eduard Stancioiu rushed out of his goal but failed to clear the ball and Simone Perrotta's cross presented Brighi with the easiest of chances.

Cluj responded well to the early blow and should have been level but Eugen Trica somehow shot wide from eight yards with the goal gaping.

And Roma made the Romanians pay for that miss by doubling their lead with 23 minutes gone. Gabriel Muresan fouled Julio Baptista 25 yards out and Totti found the top corner from the free-kick.

Again the home side poured forward and this time they did get their reward. Doni could only parry Alvaro Pereira's shot straight up into the air and Kone nodded in to make it 2-1 with half an hour gone.

Kone could have levelled matters but shot just past the post while Totti headed wide at the other end.

Cluj were nearly level in the opening moments of the second half when the dangerous Kone got his head to Pereira's cross but the ball drifted agonisingly past the far post.

Sebastian Dubarbier also got himself in a good position in the penalty area but was crowded out before he could engineer a shot.

However, all Cluj's good work was undone with Roma's third after 64 minutes; a second of the night for Brighi, who was allowed acres of space to control Rodrigo Taddei's pass and fire beyond Stancioiu.

Baptista thought he should have been awarded a penalty when he tumbled in the penalty area under pressure from Cluj captain Ricardo Cadu but referee Lucilio Cardoso Cortez Batista waved away the appeals.

Trica and Totti then both picked up yellow cards after the Roma captain took exception to Trica's foul on Marco Cassetti.

The hosts kept plugging away and Muresan unleashed a fierce 30-yard drive that was palmed behind for a corner by Doni, while at the other end substitute John Arne Riise curled an effort just wide.

But Cluj's efforts proved in vain as Roma held on to put themselves in pole position to qualify and end the Romanians' hopes of further European football this season.