Maccarone ace for brave Boro

Middlesbrough 4 Steaua Bucharest 2 (Aggregate: 4-3)

The £8.15 million Italian, who fired the Teessiders into the last four with a last-minute goal against Basle, struck a minute earlier this time around as Boro pulled off a heroic comeback against all the odds.

Just as they had done against the Swiss, Boro trailed 3-0 to Steaua Bucharest after goals from Nicolae Dica and Dorin Goian, and the Romanians had one foot in Eindhoven for the final on May 10.

But Maccarone, on for the injured Gareth Southgate, struck 12 minutes before the break before Mark Viduka and Chris Riggott the man whose injury-time FA Cup semi-final miss at Villa Park on Sunday proved so costly set up a tense finale.

However, time was almost up when Stewart Downing got the better of substitute Daniel Balan down the left and crossed to the far post for Maccarone to head imperiously past keeper Alberto Carlos and send the home supporters into ecstasy.

Maccarone said: "I can't believe it. It is incredible."

Manager Steve McClaren admitted he was not too sure how they had pulled off another remarkable comeback. "I haven't got a clue. Character, attitude. I said that against Basle and they have done it again," he said.

"I said lightning couldn't strike twice in the same place and it has done tonight. Let's go one step further and win the final."

Striker Jimmy Floyd Hasselbaink joined in the celebrations, declaring: "Massimo, I love him. It's unbelievable. We are in the final and we have to go for it in the final. We had to do it the hard way."

Having seen their FA Cup hopes extinguished by one devastating swing of Marlon Harewood's boot on Sunday, Boro knew their season would live or die on the 90 minutes or 120 if needed.

Trailing to Dica's lone strike at the Lia Manoliu Stadium last week, what they needed was a high-octane start in front of their first full house of the season.

However, Steaua, who won the European Cup in 1986, arrived on Teesside with very different ideas.

Cosmin Olaroiu's side showed on their own pitch that they can play, and for half an hour, barely gave the Teessiders a sniff.

In the process, they managed to extend their aggregate lead to 3-0 to leave McClaren's men the same almost vertical climb they had managed against all the odds to scale against Basle.

After 16 minutes Marin unleashed a right-foot shot which Jones could only parry and Dica controlled the rebound before slotting it into the bottom corner.

Boro's plight worsened eight minutes later when Goian got his head to Bostina's corner to force a good save from Jones but Parnaby could only return the ball to the defender who hammered a low shot into the back of the net.

The home side were forced into a reshuffle two minutes later when Southgate, struggling with an ankle problem, was replaced by Maccarone, who made an immediate impact.

Two minutes later the Italian ran on to Viduka's pass and smashed a low drive past Carlos.

The home crowd sensed a repeat of their side's astonishing comeback against Basle as Olaroiu's men started to look vulnerable.

But despite piling on the pressure after half-time Boro could not seem to find a way through, until McClaren made his move with 35 minutes remaining.

He sent on leading scorer Aiyegbeni Yakubu and adopted a 3-4-3 formation.

On 64 minutes Carlos came for but missed Downing's towering cross and Viduka rose to power home his 16th goal of the season.

And the stadium exploded with 17 minutes remaining when Carlos could only parry Downing's shot and Riggott stabbed the loose ball into the unguarded net.

Steaua were rocking as Boro piled forward.

With a minute left Maccarone rose at the far post to meet a Downing cross with an unstoppable header to seal another heart-stopping evening.

MIDDLESBROUGH: Jones, Riggott, Southgate (Maccarone 26), Queudrue, Parnaby, Rochemback, Boateng, Downing, Taylor (Yakubu 55), Hasselbaink (Ehiogu), Viduka.

STEAUA BUCURESTI: Carlos, Ogararu, Ghionea, Goian, Marin, Oprita (Baciu 81), Radoi, Lovin, Bostina (Nesu 86), Dica, Iacob (Balan 65).

Referee: V Hrinak (Slovakia).

Sevilla are through to meet Boro in the final, Puerta's extra-time goal enough to give them a 1-0 win over Schalke.