An inspirational performance from Brazilian playmaker Carvalho sealed CSKA Moscow's place in the UEFA Cup final with a dominant 3-0 win over Parma in the Lokomotiv Stadium yesterday.
After a 0-0 draw in the first leg the Russians overwhelmed Pietro Carmignani's men with Carvalho scoring twice and setting up the other goal for Vassili Berezoutski.
It was CSKA's first win over Italian opposition on home soil but they could find themselves facing stiff sanctions from UEFA after Parma goalkeeper Luca Bucci was forced from the pitch in the 20th minute after being hit by a flare thrown from the crowd.
A Miguel Garcia goal two minutes into added time at the end of extra-time gave Sporting Lisbon a dramatic victory on away goals in the night's other semi-final at Alkmaar. Having won the first leg 2-1, Sporting lost last night 3-2 but Garcia's goal was enough to see them through.