A late goal from Lucio clinched Bayer Leverkusen a thrilling 4-2 victory over Liverpool tonight to reach the semi-finals of the Champions League for the first time.
The Braziian defender scored with an angled shot from inside the box six minutes from time to present the Bundesliga leaders with a 4-3 quarter-final win on aggregate after a breathtaking second leg.
The visitors, who had won the first leg 1-0 at Anfield last week, looked to be through when a goal from substitute Jari Litmanen with 11 minutes remaining meant they were set to qualify on the away goals rule despite a 3-2 defeat.
Germany midfielder Michael Ballack put the home side ahead with a thunderous left drive from 20 metres out that flew straight into the top corner in the 16th minute.
Liverpool had wasted a couple of great chances through Emile Heskey and Michael Owen when Portugal fullback Abel Xavier headed home from a corner for the equaliser three minutes from the break.
Leverkusen then scored twice within five minutes with a headed goal from Ballack in the 63rd minute and a strike from close range by substitute Dimitar Berbatov in the 68th minute before the dramatic finale unfolded.
The Germans will now take on another English side for a place in the final, providing Manchester United hold their 2-0 lead over Deportivo Coruna at Old Trafford tomorrow night.
Elsewhere, Barcelona overturned their 1-0 deficit from the first leg to see off their Greek challengers Panathinaikos 3-1 on the night, 3-2 on aggregate in the other quarter-final.