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Rediff.com  » Sports » Bayern Munich, Rangers in UEFA Cup last four

Bayern Munich, Rangers in UEFA Cup last four

April 11, 2008 08:29 IST
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Favourites Bayern Munich scraped through to the semi-finals of the UEFA Cup after a dramatic extra-time away goals win over Getafe on Thursday.

Getafe played all but six minutes of the game with 10 men but looked to be heading for a famous upset victory, only for Bayern to twice come back from the dead -- first to force the game into extra time and then to snatch a last-gasp equaliser to level the match 3-3.

Michael Laudrup's side, who had defender Ruben de la Red sent off after just six minutes, stunned Bayern by taking the lead just before the break after midfielder Cosmin Contra smashed home after making a run from the halfway line.

But just as the home fans were celebrating a memorable upset Bayern midfielder Franck Ribery equalised in the 88th minute.

Getafe went for broke at the start of extra-time, midfielder Francisco Casquero putting them 2-1 up when he fired a rasping drive in off the post and substitute Braulio adding a third a minute later.

But striker Luca Toni pulled a goal back for Bayern five minutes from time and struck again at the death to end Getafe's dreams and secure his side a semi-final showdown against Zenit St Petersburg.

In Lisbon, Rangers produced a classic counter-attacking performance to win 2-0 against Sporting and also reach the semi-finals.

The Scottish league leaders soaked up plenty of pressure from the Lisbon side in the second leg of their quarter-final before breaking away to score the first goal of the tie on the hour.

French striker Jean-Claude Darcheville tucked away a Steven Davis cross to stun the losing 2005 finalists on a wet night in the Portuguese capital.

Sporting had gone the closest to a breakthrough when Brazilian striker Liedson struck the post in the first half with a powerful header.

Rangers secured a last four meeting with Fiorentina when substitute Steven Whittaker waltzed through a tiring Sporting defence to net a second goal in stoppage time.

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