Champions League progresses to semifinals

  • 2004-04-15
  • From wire reports
RIGA - No one but no one could have predicted the second leg quarterfinal results in the Champions League that shocked the soccer world last week. The competition usually throws up a few surprises along the way, but by the time it reaches the knockout phase it generally goes according to form.

So much for Real Madrid then, the most expensively assembled team in the history of soccer. "Los galacticos" were beaten 3-1 by underdogs Monaco in their April 6 encounter. Madrid was expected to cruise through to the semis after winning its home leg 4-2, and got off to a perfect start with a goal in the 35th minute by Raul. But Monaco fought back, scoring first through Ludivic Guily, and then through ex-Madrid star Fernando Morientes. Guily then scored again in the 66th minute to seal an historic win for Monaco, which won 5-5 on aggregate thanks to the away goal rule. Madrid coach Carlos Queiroz will almost certainly be enjoying an extended summer holiday this year.
But if that wasn't enough of a shock, then what about current cup holders and favorites AC Milan? Even the most prudent of soccer fans would have bet his grandmother on the Italians progressing to the semifinals after they routed Spain's Deportivo de La Coruna 4-1 in the first leg. But Deportivo caused perhaps the biggest upset in Champions League history when it beat Milan 4-0 to go through 5-4 on aggregate.
And then there was Arsenal. Having drawn 1-1 with London rivals Chelsea in their first leg, it was the favorite to go through in the April 6 return fixture at its home ground. Arsenal went 1-0 up on the stroke of half time with a goal from Jose Antonio Reyes. But Chelsea came out fighting and played some sublime football to win the game. First Frank Lampard equalized in the 51st minute, and then Wayne Bride scored a delightful goal in the 87th minute after playing a sweetly worked one-two to stun the crowd into devastated silence and clinch a 2-1 victory on aggregate.
In the other quarter- final, played on April 7, Porto drew 2-2 with Lyon to go through 4-2 on aggregate. Porto will now face Deportivo in the second semifinal on April 21 in what should be a thrilling game. Chelsea, meanwhile, will play Monaco on April 20.