Villarreal through on away goals
Tuesday, 04, Apr 2006 10:59
Villarreal have progressed to the semi-finals of the Champions League after a 1-0 win over Inter Milan saw them through on the away goals rule.
Left-back Rodolfo Arruabarrena headed home Juan Roman Riquelme's free-kick 13 minutes into the second-half to give the home side the lead on the night.
However, with Inter unable to find an equaliser, Diego Forlan's goal inside the first minute of the first leg at the San Siro became decisive and the Spaniards will now face either Arsenal or Juventus in the last four.
Having been slightly the better side in the first leg, which they won 2-1, the Italians were left chasing the game as Villarreal imposed themselves from the start.
They had a goal chalked off early on as Jose Mari headed home from Javi Venta's cross only for the referee to blow for a push on former Everton defender Marco Materazzi.
However, despite dominating much of the possession and having Riquelme's creativity, Villarreal struggled to find the cutting edge they needed to bring the tie level overall.
The second-half followed a similar pattern but Francesco Toldo was forced into a good save from Riquelme's long-range drive early on.
The home side were showing more penetration and found the net on 58 minutes.
Riquelme's free-kick from the right picked out Arruabarrena, who had found some space at the back post, and the defender flicked home a header from 12 yards.
Forlan nearly made it two soon after but was denied by a great save from Toldo before the Italian goalkeeper denied Riquelme a goal his efforts deserved ten minutes from time.
Villarreal's Argentine international Juan Pablo Sorin was left with a nasty head wound after being elbowed by Materazzi but the Inter defender escaped punishment on the night as Inter's frustration began to show.
Inter's best chance of the game came in the closing moments when Dejan Stankovic's sweetly struck shot brought a good parry from Sebastian Vieira.
However, the Spanish side, who are currently eighth in La Liga, closed out the game to progress to the last four.