Depor achieve Mission Impossible

A smart strike from centre-forward Walter Pandiani, a header from Juan Carlos Valeron and a fierce drive from Albert Luque a minute from halftime allowed Depor to wipe out Milan’s first-leg advantage in the space of just 45 minutes and leave them on course to progress on the away goals rule.

But substitute and club captain Fran the provided the icing on the cake when he smashed in a fourth 14 minutes from time to give the Galicians a 5-4 aggregate victory. Depor now face Porto in their first Champions League semi-final appearance.

It was the first time a team has ever recovered from a three-goal first leg deficit to win a Champions League knockout tie and was all the more impressive as it came against the hugely experienced Milan side who had not previously conceded a European away goal all season. Depor got off to a dream start when they scored from their very first attack. Pandiani, who scored Depor’s goal in the first leg and also knocked out Juventus in the previous round, received the ball with his back to goal on the edge of the area, turned sharply to leave Paolo Maldini trailing and drilled a left-foot shot low past Dida and inside the post.

Depor put the Serie A side on the rack for the next 20 minutes, although Milan did threaten when midfielder Kaka raced clear on he break only to be denied by a sharp save from Molina.

The Galicians continued to have the better of the play and had a string of further chances go further in front in the next few minutes.

Valeron and Victor were both denied by Dida but the Brazilian goalkeeper was at fault for the second goal when he flapped at a superb cross from the left by Luque and leaving the unmarked Valeron to head in from five metres.