No slip-ups on Porto's path

UEFA Champions League: Lyon 2 Porto 2 (Porto win 4-2 on aggregate)Maniche Ribeiro scored twice to ease Porto into the Champions League semi-finals at Olympique Lyon last night.

The UEFA Cup holders' win completed a 4-2 aggregate success and set up a semi-final against Deportivo La Coruna who upset holders AC Milan in the other quarter-final.

It was clear from the outset that the game was going to be dominated by attacking football.

Lyon coach Paul Le Guen adopted a typically aggressive formation as his side went in search of their first two-goal victory in the Champions League this season, Edmílson anchoring a three-man defence behind a five-man midfield with Juninho Pernambucano the linchpin. With Sidney Govou injured, Giovane Elber partnered Péguy Luyindula in attack. José Mourinho opted for a similarly positive formation, employing Deco behind Benni McCarthy and Carlos Alberto in attack.

Buoyed by a vibrant atmosphere engineered by the vociferous home support, Lyon began the brighter, with Luyindula finding the net from Elber's flick only to be denied by the assistant referee's flag.

Undeterred, Luyindula was again tormenting the Porto defence seconds later but his fourth-minute shot was well saved by Vítor Baía.

Maniche fired high into the net after only six minutes from Deco's clever pass to open the scoring. Peguy Luyindula equalised for Lyon eight minutes later but Maniche's volleyed finish from another Deco pass two minutes after the break killed the tie.

Lyon had Edmilson sent off 16 minutes from time but Elber scored a late consolation.

LYON: Coupet, Edmilson, Muller, Essien (Reveillere 60), Diarra, Malouda, Berthod, Dhorasoo (Deflandre 76), Elber, Luyindula, Juninho (Bergougnoux 60). Subs Not Used: Vercoutre, Delmotte, Gomez, Viale. Sent Off: Edmilson (73). Booked: Juninho, Edmilson. Goals: Luyindula 14, Elber 89.

FC PORTO: Vitor Baia, Jorge Costa, Ricardo Carvalho, Nuno Valente, Paulo Ferreira, Costinha, Deco (Pedro Mendes 76), Alenitchev, Maniche, Carlos Alberto (Pedro Emanuel 47), McCarthy (Jankauskas 59). Subs Not Used: Bosingwa, Cesar Peixoto, Marco Ferreira, Nuno. Booked: Deco, Jorge Costa, Vitor Baia. Goals: Maniche 6, 46.

Referee: Anders Frisk (Sweden).