Deportivo la Coruna coach Javier Irureta described his team’s sensational Champions League triumph over holders AC Milan on Wednesday as a ”miracle”.
The Spanish side overturned a 4-1 first leg deficit to win the return clash of their quarterfinal tie 4-0 to go through 5-4 on aggregate and set up a semifinal match-up against FC Porto.
”We knew that it was possible and we have succeeded,” said Irureta.
”It is sensational. We have produced a miracle here tonight and this is a great night for the club. This is a historical result.”
Having reached the semifinals for the first time in their history, having made the last eight twice in the past three years, Deportivo will now face a FC Porto side who drew 2-2 in Lyon on Wednesday to earn a 4-2 aggregate win.
”We are heroes,” added the jubilent Irureta.
Having lost the first leg 4-1 in the San Siro, few pundits gave Deportivo any chance of making it to the semifinals but Milan looked a shadow of the side that lead the Italian Serie A and took the European title last season.
Walter Pandiani ignited the most phenomenal fight back in the Champions League in recent seasons with a goal after just five minutes.
Inspired by the Uruguayan’s early strike, with the ball going between the legs of Paolo Maldini before Pandiani sent a low shot past Milan ‘keeper Dida, Deportivo then decided to throw everything at the Italian visitors.
”However, Kaka had a chance after 20 minutes which was stopped well by [Deportivo goalkeeper Jose] Molina. If that had gone in, everything would have been different,” admitted Irureta.
Deportivo nearly went two up after 25 minutes when Juan Carlos Valeron blasted the ball from the edge of the area, requiring an instinctive save from Dida to stop the goal.
However, Valeron was not to be denied.
The Spanish international playmaker found the net 10 minutes later, heading home an Albert Luque cross from wide on the left and taking advantage of Dida being out of position.
The Galicians then took the lead over the two legs just a minute before half-time when Maldini and Cafu were caught too far forward, allowing Luque to run on to a deep clearance by Molina.
Luque then showed why he will be one of Spain’s men to watch at Euro 2004 by calmly taking the ball into the area before sending a left-foot shot past the hapless Dida.
The goal put Deportivo in the driving seat over the two legs, with Milan now required to score if they were to rescue the tie.
The Italians looked a better side in the second half and launched some more coherant attacks but Molina competently covered everything that was thrown at him.
At the other end, Dida’s miserable night continued when Fran Gonzalez confirmed Deportivo’s victory after 76 minutes with a thunderbolt from the edge of the area on the left.
The result left the 30 000 Deportivo fans delirious and Irureta facing the prospect of having to fulfil his promise to do the 800km Camino de Santiago pilgrimage in the north of Spain, which he said he would do on his knees if Deportivo beat Milan.
In the summer of 2000, he walked the route after Deportivo won the league. — Sapa-AFP