Summary

  • Fine Inisi and Harrison Keddie score first half tries for Welsh region

  • Dragons duo David Richards and try-scorer Inisi are both sin-binned

  • Jacopo Trulla and Giulio Bertaccini both touch down for Italians in tight opening half

  • Keddie scores his second try to put Dragons in control

  • Replacement hooker Elliot Dee scores away side's fourth try

  • Angus O'Brien kicks 15 points for Dragons

  • Late Leonard Krumov and Giovanni tries not enough for late Zebre comeback

  • Dragons will face Montpellier in the semi-finals in early May

  • The final will be held at Bilbao's San Mames Stadium on Friday, 22 May

  1. Farewell after a famous win for Dragonspublished at 22:06 BST 11 April

    Zebre 32-35 Dragons

    Fraser Watson
    BBC Sport Wales reporter

    It wasn't perfect by a long stretch, and when the dust settles, Filo Tiatia will know he has to address the ill-discipline that cost his side dear in the first-half. But now is not the time for minor gripes.

    After their struggles of recent years, and the suffering of fans, this is a moment Dragons deserve. Three times tonight, they were bold enough to opt for the corner from a kickable penalty and it yielded 21 points.

    The scrum may have creaked, but the front-row replacements made telling impacts with Wyn Jones helping create the third try and Elliot Dee going over himself for the fourth.

    Despite their clear improvements this season, initially under Tiatia this side was still failing to turn performances into wins in tight games - especially on the road. That balance has been spectacularly addressed these past two away trips.

    In the semi-final, it's Montpellier away. Will Dragons fans now be dreaming of a European final? For now at least, I'd say dream away, they deserve too.

    Thank you for following.

  2. Dragons 'representing Wales' - Tiatiapublished at 22:04 BST 11 April

    FT: Zebre 32-35 Dragons

    Dragons head coach Filo Tiatia speaking to S4C:

    "We're very happy. We're representing the people of Gwent, but also Wales as well.

    "I'm really proud of getting over the line.

    "The last few minutes, we needed to tighten up on a couple of things.

    "But all in all, I'm really proud of the effort, of all the players and I'm really grateful that we got through."

  3. 'Biggest thing was the win'published at 22:00 BST 11 April

    FT: Zebre 32-35 Dragons

    Man-of-the-match Harrison Keddie speaking to S4C:

    "The biggest thing was the win tonight.

    "We spoke about it all week, how to earn a crack at it.

    "We knew it was going to be tough, Zebre are a good team, particularly at home.

    "The first 20 minutes was a real contest and we spoke about weathering that storm and applying our game to them.

    "I think we did that well and we got out of it what we wanted to."

  4. Young's elationpublished at 21:58 BST 11 April

    FT: Zebre 32-35 Dragons

    Dragons' Thomas Young speaking to S4C:

    "It was a very hard game, but it means everything to us.

    "We know we're close as a group and we're just so proud to be in the next round.

    "We'll enjoy it tonight and look forward to that when it comes around.

  5. More from O'Brienpublished at 21:55 BST 11 April

    FT: Zebre 32-35 Dragons

    Dragons' Angus O'Brien speaking to S4C:

    "I'm just so proud of where we've come from and the growth we're making.

    "We've got a semi-final to look forward to now."

  6. O'Brien's elationpublished at 21:53 BST 11 April

    FT: Zebre 32-35 Dragons

    Dragons' Angus O'Brien speaking to S4C:

    "I'm just absolutely elated, it means so much to us as players, the club, everything.

    "It meant an awful lot and it was important that we backed up last week to show that it was a one-off.

    "It wasn't perfect by any means but it's knockout rugby.

    "I'm really proud with how we came out in that second half, we tidied up a few things that we spoke about in the changing rooms.

    "To come away with the victory, I'm absolutely elated."

  7. Credit to Dragonspublished at 21:50 BST 11 April

    FT: Zebre 32-35 Dragons

    Richie Rees
    Former Cardiff and Wales scrum-half on BBC Radio Wales

    What a game and what a team with the quality to go over and play in Montpellier.

    Credit to the Dragons, two away victories in France and in Italy.

    They thoroughly deserved the victory tonight.

    The key standout performers, Ben Carter, Tinus de Beer, Angus O'Brien, Harrison Keddie the man-of-the-match, Ryan Woodman.

    But the graft as a team, that is starting to show where this Dragons team is going with the improvements they're making week-on-week, month-on-month.

    Credit to their coaching setup. Well done to the Dragons.

  8. Full-time: Zebre 32-35 Dragonspublished at 21:46 BST 11 April

    Be still my beating heart.

    Dragons, yes, the much-maligned side that for so long have been perceived as by far the weakest of the four Welsh teams, are in a European semi-final.

  9. try

    Converted try: Zebre 32-35 Dragonspublished at 80 mins

    Quattrini try, Da Re con

    The last act goes to Zebre but it comes too late...

    Replacement Giovanni Quattrini powers under the posts but there won't be time for the extra score the home side needs.

  10. Away day heavenpublished at 79 mins

    Zebre 25-35 Dragons

    Richie Rees
    Former Cardiff and Wales scrum-half on BBC Radio Wales

    That's three fantastic away trips for these Dragons fans.

    Paris, Parma and now Montpellier, hopefully to come.

  11. try

    Try: Zebre 25-35 Dragonspublished at 78 mins

    Krumov

    Ok, maybe not quite over....

    That man Jacopo Trulla does the damage again with a burst forward and with one man to beat, skipper Leonard Krumov is on hand to take his pass and go over out wide.

    It gives his team a flicker of hope but, surely not...

  12. Penalty: Zebre 20-35 Dragonspublished at 77 mins

    O'Brien

    Semi-final place secure!

    We can say that with confidence now. A jinking Rio Dyer run has the Zebre defence scrambling and moments later they are pinged in midfield.

    From 35 metres out, Angus O'Brien does what Angus O'Brien does.

  13. Postpublished at 74 mins

    Zebre 20-32 Dragons

    Another Zebre attack breaks down the Niall Armstrong makes them pay by pulling off a 50-22!

    Tension is turning to joy for the Dragons fans in the stands. Their side are on the brink here.

  14. Dee on songpublished at 70 mins

    Zebre 20-32 Dragons

    Richie Rees
    Former Cardiff and Wales scrum-half on BBC Radio Wales

    Excellent play from Elliot Dee.

    They get good go forward in that driving lineout. He's really patient.

    That's what separates the Dragons in that instance.

    They were similar out in Paris last weekend. Two tries from driving lineouts.

    It's taken the Dragons to 12 points ahead.

  15. Postpublished at 68 mins

    Zebre 20-32 Dragons

    A Zebre drive is held up 15 metres from the Dragons line with a scrum given to the visitors - and the Welsh team's forwards celebrate it like they're on a World Cup winning open top bus parade.

    No shortage of emotion out there folks.

  16. try

    Try: Zebre 20-32 Dragonspublished at 66 mins

    Dee

    Elliot Dee extends the lead!

    Wow. Dragons have a kickable penalty but sensing blood, they opt for a line-out.

    Like the first-half, fortune favours the brave and from another nigh-on perfect rolling maul the replacement hooker buries over.

    Angus O'Brien can't convert for once but the visitors are closing in on the final four.

  17. Penalty: Zebre 20-27 Dragonspublished at 63 mins

    Da Re

    Interesting.

    After going for the corner on numerous occasions in this half, this time Giacomo Da Re has a shot at the posts from 42 metres.

    He nails it too and Zebre are back within a converted try.

  18. Fans on songpublished at 62 mins

    Zebre 17-27 Dragons

    Richie Rees
    Former Cardiff and Wales scrum-half on BBC Radio Wales

    It's great to see so many travelling Dragons fans.

    It was the same last week in Paris, and now in Parma.

  19. Postpublished at 61 mins

    Zebre 17-27 Dragons

    Ohhh.....they don't like that the home fans.

    A long miss-pass from Marco Zanon seemingly puts Jacopo Trulla in for his second try - only for a blast of Luke Pearce's whistle to stop him in his tracks.

    On reply, the official got that right - it was slightly forward.

    The Dragons still have a 10-point buffer but these are tense moments.

  20. Postpublished at 58 mins

    Zebre 17-27 Dragons

    Richie Rees
    Former Cardiff and Wales scrum-half on BBC Radio Wales

    It's good defence from the Dragons.