Deportivo hail 'miracle'

QUARTER-FINAL SECOND LEG Deportivo 4-0 AC Milan (agg: 5-4)

Deportivo La Coruna coach Javier Irureta claimed they produced an "historical" display to dump holders AC Milan out of the Champions League.

The Spaniards reached the semi-final with a 4-0 win to overturn a three-goal lead and seal a 5-4 aggregate victory.

Irureta said: "It is sensational. We have produced a miracle here. This is a great night for the club. This is an historical result. We are heroes.

"We knew that it was still possible to go through and we have succeeded."

Deportivo were written off after losing the first leg 4-1 in the San Siro, but they had wiped out the lead and took an aggregate advantage by scoring three times before half-time.

Walter Pandiani ignited the most phenomenal fightback in the Champions League in recent seasons with a goal after just five minutes.

It is a testament to the strength and depth of European football that so many big guns are going out From Kieran Colville Have your say on 606

Juan Carlos Valeron and Albert Luque added further goals before the interval, with Fran scoring the fourth 15 minutes from time.

Irureta admitted: "Kaka had a chance after 20 minutes which was stopped well by our goalkeeper Jose Molina.

"If that had gone in, everything would have been different."

They now face Porto in the semi-final, with Chelsea playing Monaco in the other tie.