Dortmund hold off Milan

Cosmin Contra celebrates after giving Milan hope

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Borussia Dortmund reached the final of the Uefa Cup 5-3 on aggregate but were made to sweat by AC Milan.

Milan, seemingly down and out after a 4-0 first-leg defeat, won the second leg 3-1 having made a superb start.

The Germans saw their advantage halved inside 20 minutes.

Andrey Shevchenko (right) set up Milan's opener

Milan got the early goal they were looking for in the 11th minute when Andriy Shevchenko put Serginho away down the left and the Brazilian's pinpoint cross was headed home at the back post by Filippo Inzaghi.

Eight minutes later Milan's hopes of a miracle comeback were raised.

A free-kick from Andrea Pirlo was punched out by Dortmund goalkeeper Jens Lehman but fell straight at the feet of Romanian Cosmin Contra, who drilled the ball into the bottom corner of the net.

But it was not until the final minute that Milan really made Dortmund sweat.

Serginho converted a penalty to bring the home side to within a goal of taking the game into extra-time.

But Dortmund's nerves eased when substitute Lars Ricken struck in injury time to end the fightback and ensure a 5-3 aggregate win.

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AC Milan: Abbiati, Contra, Chamot, Serginho, Laursen, Kaladze, Helveg, Gattuso, Pirlo, Shevchenko, Inzaghi. Subs: Rossi, Albertini, Donati, Brocchi, Javi Moreno, Jose Mari, Simone.

Borussia Dortmund: Lehmann, Worns, Heinrich, Reuter, Dede, Metzelder, Oliseh, Rosicky, Koller, Amoroso, Ewerthon. Subs: Laux, Kohler, Evanilson, Ricken, Stevic, Addo, Herrlich.

Referee: Giles Veissiere (France)