AC Milan's Filippo Inzaghi celebrates his goal against Olympique Lyon during the second leg of their Champions League quarter-final match in Milan yesterday. AC Milan won 3-1 and have advanced to the League semi-finals. - REUTERS
LONDON (AP):
AC MILAN needed a late goal from Filippo Inzaghi to reach the semi-finals of the Champions League yesterday.
Inter Milan needed a goal from anyone.
Inzaghi knocked in the deciding goal in the 88th minute to help Milan beat Lyon 3-1 and advance 3-1 on aggregate, the third time in four years they have reached the semi-finals. Inter were eliminated on away goals after losing to Villarreal 1-0. The two-leg series finished 2-2 on aggregate.
In the semi-finals, Milan will face either Benfica or FC Barcelona. Barcelona host Benfica today after a 0-0 draw in the first leg last week.
Villarreal will play either Italian champions Juventus or Arsenal. The English team heads to Turin leading 2-0 from the first leg.
Inzaghi also scored the first goal of the match at the San Siro in the 25th minute, heading in a perfect cross from Clarence Seedorf.
But Mahamadou Diarra equalised for Lyon in the 31st minute, heading in a deflection off a teammate after Juninho's free kick, and it looked as if the four-time French league champions were going to advance.
With only two minutes to go, however, Andriy Shevchenko took a shot that Lyon goalkeeper Gregory Coupet tipped. The ball rolled off Coupet's fingers and hit the far post, then rolled across the goalline and hit the near post.
Inzaghi was in the middle and poked the ball into the net.
DETERMINATION
"The key was our heart, determination," Inzaghi said. "We were a bit nervous in the second half because minutes were passing and we were close to elimination. At one moment we thought we were out. Then I had some good luck on that rebound from the post."
Shevchenko added a third goal in injury time, giving the Shevchenko-Inzaghi duo 109 goals in European competition - the most in history.
Milan, six-time European Cup champions, reached the final last year but lost to Liverpool on penalties.
Villarreal got their winning goal from Rodolfo Arruabarrena in the 58th minute. The defender headed a free kick from Juan Roman Riquelme past Inter goalkeeper Francesco Toldo.
Villarreal, who are only in their seventh season in the Spanish first division, are the sixth team from the country to reach the final four of Europe's top club competition. Real Madrid, Barcelona, Valencia, Deportivo La Coruna and Atletico Madrid are the others.
