Monaco book Champions League semi-final

Monaco 3 Real Madrid 1 (5-5 on agg, Monaco win on away goals)

Monaco booked a semi-final date with Chelsea in sensational style with an away goals victory over Champions League favourites Real Madrid.

The Spanish champions looked to be coasting towards the last four when Raul put them 1-0 ahead in the first half, further embellishing their 4-2 first-leg lead.

Ludovic Giuly equalised on the night in first-half stoppage time but there still looked to be a mountain to climb for the Principality club.

However, second-half goals from Fernando Morientes – on loan from Real – and Giuly ensured Monaco progressed at the expense of the nine-time champions who had all their big names except David Beckham on the pitch.

Monaco played well in the first half but 10 minutes before half-time Real looked to have sealed their progress.

Fed by Zinedine Zidane, Ronaldo launched a surging run and fed an unmarked Raul who swept the ball past Roma.

In first-half stoppage time, Monaco squared the match on the night with a fine goal.

Patrice Evra’s cross found Morientes who headed the ball back to Giuly and he volleyed the ball just inside the post, helped by a deflection off Roberto Carlos.

After 48 minutes Monaco went ahead on the night when Morientes got his head to a long hopeful ball forward and it looped into the net.

Shabani Nonda entered the fray for Prso as Monaco went all out for the goal they needed and the policy paid off after 66 minutes when it became 3-1 to Monaco.

A sweeping move found Hugo Ibarra who drove the ball low into the penalty area and Giuly’s delicious flick between his own legs found the net.

Raul headed a cross from Roberto Carlos into the net but it was ruled out for offside.

A fine Monaco counter-attack ended with Nonda curling the ball high and wide as both sides surged forward in the closing minutes.

From a corner Nonda then headed a ball which bounced up and struck a post with Morientes failing to prosper from the rebound.

Raul missed a good chance then Nonda then set up Emmanuel Adebayor who also struck woodwork and in a hectic finale Raul just failed to guide a Zidane cross on target.