Amazing Depor dump holders Milan, Porto cruise

Deportivo Coruna produced the greatest second-leg comeback in Champions League history on Wednesday to humiliate holders AC Milan 4-0 and reach the semi-finals for the first time.

The Spanish team's astonishing performance meant they overturned a 4-1 first leg deficit to go through 5-4 overall. No team has previously overturned a three-goal first-leg deficit in the 11-year history of the Champions League.

Javier Irureta's side will face Porto in the last four after the 1987 European Cup winners drew 2-2 at French club Olympique Lyon for a 4-2 aggregate victory.

Six-times winners Milan followed fellow favourites Real Madrid of Spain and England's Arsenal out of the competition, meaning the leaders of Europe's three top leagues were all eliminated in the quarter-finals.

On Tuesday, French side Monaco produced a superb recovery from 1-0 down on the night to win 3-1 against nine-times winners Real and advance on the away goals rule.

They will play Chelsea in the other semi-finalafter the English premier league club upset London rivals Arsenal 2-1 with a dramatic late winner by Wayne Bridge to go through 3-2 on aggregate.

Of the four semi-finalists, only Porto have reached the final of Europe's elite club competition before.

Deportivo's Riazor stadium witnessed an extraordinary opening 45 minutes in which the home side, who had won their previous seven home Champions League matches without conceding a goal, put Milan to the sword.

Uruguayan Walter Pandiani fired Depor in front with a turn and shot after only five minutes and Milan's vastly experienced defence suddenly started playing like novices.

Goalkeeper Dida flapped at a free kick, allowing Juan Carlos Valeron to head in the second after 35 minutes.

The transformation was complete when Albert Luque profited from some more poor defending to fire Depor's third high into the net a minute before the interval.

Milan, who won 4-0 at Deportivo in the competition last season, still only needed a goal to go through but the only score of the second half came through Depor substitute Fran's deflected effort 14 minutes from time.

The Spanish side tackled like demons to complete a remarkable win by a team who lost 8-3 at Monaco in the group phase of the competition.

"The game turned out exactly the way I dreamed it would," Deportivo coach Irureta said. "We gave a sensational first-half display."

Milan's defeat was their worst in the European Cup since a 5-1 loss to Barcelona in the 1959-60 season and coach Carlo Ancelotti could not account for the night's dramatic events.

"We never expected this to happen," he said. "This is a really bitter defeat."

UEFA Cup holders Porto, who ousted Manchester United in the previous round, made the perfect start in France when Maniche Ribeiro rippled the roof of the Lyon net after a clever pass by Deco Souza in the sixth minute.

Lyon attacked regardless and Peguy Luyindula jabbed in the equaliser after 14 minutes.

The French team, contesting their first Champions League quarter-final, rained in shots but were killed off two minutes after the break when Maniche crashed home another sublime Deco cross.

Lyon had defender Edmilson sent off for a second yellow card with 16 minutes left and his Brazilian compatriot Giovane Elber's 90th-minute header was too little, too late.

The semi-finals will be played over two legs on April 20/21 and May 4/5.