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Liverpool dismiss Porto threat
Liverpool booked their passage through to the Uefa Cup semi-finals by dismissing FC Porto in ultimately comfortable fashion.
Danny Murphy eased any fears posed by the delicately poised 0-0 scoreline from the first leg when he netted in somewhat controversial style for the opener.
Liverpool survived a scare at the other end before Michael Owen, in inspired form, scored his first European goal at Anfield with a header.
Those goals provided Liverpool with a firm stanglehold on the tie and they only furthered their grip as the game progressed.
Porto had arrived on Merseyside predicting they could threaten Liverpool's challenge for a unique Cup treble.
The Anfield side have already claimed the Worthington Cup and, along with their Uefa Cup campaign, they are also in the last four of the FA Cup.
Porto approached the encounter in an aggressive manner and, with Liverpool similarly giving their opponents little time and space, it dictated a combative affair early on.
Russian midfielder Dmitri Alenitchev, back in the Porto side, looked a threatening influence but the Liverpool defence stood firm before Murphy scored.
Steven Gerrard, on the right of midfield with Vladimir Smicer playing just behind the front two, was the provider.
In a formation which raised some eyebrows, the tactics were justified by Gerrard's impact.
He drove in a cross-field ball to find Murphy in space at the far post.
Murphy's initial control saw the Porto players appealling for handball but he took little notice and, with his second touch, scored with a left foot shot just inside the far post.
Liverpool keeper Sander Westerveld then denied Porto an almost immediate equaliser.
Clayton Cruz was put through on the home goal which brought Westerveld rushing off his line to importantly block the shot.
Porto, without an away win in seven attempts, fell further behind with Owen's goal.
Gerrard again crossed from the right and Owen's downward header bounced into the Porto top corner.
Owen was in ominously threatening form as he and attempted a curling shot into the far corner which Porto keeper Pedro Espinha palmed away.
Impressive
There was little let up for Porto with Murphy again coming close shortly after the inteval.
Robbie Fowler teed up Owen for a shot on goal which went over as Liverpool rose to the occasion in front of a vociferous and passionate crowd.
Porto were limited to long range attempts on goal which were confidently dealt with by an impressive Westerveld.
Liverpool's main worry was that a third goal, in order to prevent any anxiety should Porto score, was proving elusive.
This danger did not materialise and Liverpool cruised into the next round which will be decided in the draw for the last four on Friday.
Minute-by-minute action from Liverpool's impressive 2-0 win over Porto in the second leg of the Uefa Cup quarter-final against Porto at Anfield.
Full-time: Liverpool 2-0 Porto. Liverpool are rarely troubled as they comfortably secure a place in the semi-finals of the Uefa Cup.
90: Capucho chases a desperate long kick from Espinha, but Henchoz safely heads back to Westerveld.
88: Liverpool goal-hero Murphy is replaced by Christian Ziege.
83: Heskey plays a dangerous ball into the box, which is well cleared by Paredes.
77: Litmanen finds Owen in Porto's area with a fantastic long pass, but Fernando Nelson dispossesses him.
73: Liverpool substitute Smicer and Fowler for Jari Litmanen and Emile Heskey.
68: Clayton finds Deco on the edge of the area, but his first touch is poor and Hyypia is able to clear. Porto are becoming increasingly threatening.
66: Jorge Andrade heads over after finding himself unmarked on the edge of the six-yard box.
64: Owen spots Espinha off his line and tries to lob him from the edge of the area, but Porto's keeper is alert to the danger and makes a comfortable save.
61: Fowler heads a superb Gerrard free-kick over when only six yards out.
58: Fowler pauses and tees up Owen, who fires high and wide from inside the area.
54: Liverpool are dominating, but Smicer wastes a good chance when he hits a pass behind several team-mates queuing up in the area.
50: Pena, the top scorer in the Portuguese league, blazes a 25-yard shot well wide of goal.
46: Murphy powers into the area and hits a powerful shot from an acute angle that Espinha blocks.
Half-time: Liverpool 2-0 Porto.
45: The increasingly impressive Owen curls a delicious shot that Espinha frantically manages to palm away.
44: Porto break quickly and Paredes passes to Santos, who blazes a 25-yard shot high over the crossbar.
38: Gerrard's free-kick finds Owen unmarked 10 yards from goal. The young striker heads the ball into the ground, but it bounces past Espinha into the top of Porto's goal. Liverpool 2-0 Porto.
35: Porto's Dmitri Alenitchev plays a clever pass to put Clayton one-on-one with Westerveld, but the Liverpool keeper does well to smother the ball.
33: Murphy collects an excellent pass from Gerrard and hits a hopeful diagonal shot from the left-hand side of the area. Ricardo Silva is unable to stop the ball hitting the far post and going in. Porto appeal for handball, but the goal stands. Liverpool 1-0 Porto.
30: A chorus of boos welcome Secretario back into the fray.
25: Owen makes another lightning burst down the flank and is brought down by Secretario, who is shown the yellow card. The Porto defender goes down in a heap, but the referee will not allow him to receive treatment for several minutes because he thinks he is feigning injury. Eventually the player goes off.
21: Candido Costa wins a corner for Porto, but it is horribly wasted and the home side easily clear.
20: A great turn by Owen on the left is followed by a whipped cross into the box that is desperately cleared by Porto.
15: Steven Gerrard takes the ball on his chest and hits a fierce volley that Porto keeper Pedro Espinha tips over the crossbar.
13: Porto's Ricardo Silva is the first player to be booked following a crude challenge on Owen.
10: The home side win a corner following good work on the left from Vladimir Smicer. The ensuing set-piece evades everyone in the area and Porto clear.
5 minutes: Liverpool's Michael Owen evades two challenges on the right wing and plays a ball into the area that is cleared by Porto.
2005 GMT: Liverpool kick-off at an expectant Anfield.
Copyright - BBC
Danny Murphy eased any fears posed by the delicately poised 0-0 scoreline from the first leg when he netted in somewhat controversial style for the opener.
Liverpool survived a scare at the other end before Michael Owen, in inspired form, scored his first European goal at Anfield with a header.
Those goals provided Liverpool with a firm stanglehold on the tie and they only furthered their grip as the game progressed.
Porto had arrived on Merseyside predicting they could threaten Liverpool's challenge for a unique Cup treble.
The Anfield side have already claimed the Worthington Cup and, along with their Uefa Cup campaign, they are also in the last four of the FA Cup.
Porto approached the encounter in an aggressive manner and, with Liverpool similarly giving their opponents little time and space, it dictated a combative affair early on.
Russian midfielder Dmitri Alenitchev, back in the Porto side, looked a threatening influence but the Liverpool defence stood firm before Murphy scored.
Steven Gerrard, on the right of midfield with Vladimir Smicer playing just behind the front two, was the provider.
In a formation which raised some eyebrows, the tactics were justified by Gerrard's impact.
He drove in a cross-field ball to find Murphy in space at the far post.
Murphy's initial control saw the Porto players appealling for handball but he took little notice and, with his second touch, scored with a left foot shot just inside the far post.
Liverpool keeper Sander Westerveld then denied Porto an almost immediate equaliser.
Clayton Cruz was put through on the home goal which brought Westerveld rushing off his line to importantly block the shot.
Porto, without an away win in seven attempts, fell further behind with Owen's goal.
Gerrard again crossed from the right and Owen's downward header bounced into the Porto top corner.
Owen was in ominously threatening form as he and attempted a curling shot into the far corner which Porto keeper Pedro Espinha palmed away.
Impressive
There was little let up for Porto with Murphy again coming close shortly after the inteval.
Robbie Fowler teed up Owen for a shot on goal which went over as Liverpool rose to the occasion in front of a vociferous and passionate crowd.
Porto were limited to long range attempts on goal which were confidently dealt with by an impressive Westerveld.
Liverpool's main worry was that a third goal, in order to prevent any anxiety should Porto score, was proving elusive.
This danger did not materialise and Liverpool cruised into the next round which will be decided in the draw for the last four on Friday.
Minute-by-minute action from Liverpool's impressive 2-0 win over Porto in the second leg of the Uefa Cup quarter-final against Porto at Anfield.
Full-time: Liverpool 2-0 Porto. Liverpool are rarely troubled as they comfortably secure a place in the semi-finals of the Uefa Cup.
90: Capucho chases a desperate long kick from Espinha, but Henchoz safely heads back to Westerveld.
88: Liverpool goal-hero Murphy is replaced by Christian Ziege.
83: Heskey plays a dangerous ball into the box, which is well cleared by Paredes.
77: Litmanen finds Owen in Porto's area with a fantastic long pass, but Fernando Nelson dispossesses him.
73: Liverpool substitute Smicer and Fowler for Jari Litmanen and Emile Heskey.
68: Clayton finds Deco on the edge of the area, but his first touch is poor and Hyypia is able to clear. Porto are becoming increasingly threatening.
66: Jorge Andrade heads over after finding himself unmarked on the edge of the six-yard box.
64: Owen spots Espinha off his line and tries to lob him from the edge of the area, but Porto's keeper is alert to the danger and makes a comfortable save.
61: Fowler heads a superb Gerrard free-kick over when only six yards out.
58: Fowler pauses and tees up Owen, who fires high and wide from inside the area.
54: Liverpool are dominating, but Smicer wastes a good chance when he hits a pass behind several team-mates queuing up in the area.
50: Pena, the top scorer in the Portuguese league, blazes a 25-yard shot well wide of goal.
46: Murphy powers into the area and hits a powerful shot from an acute angle that Espinha blocks.
Half-time: Liverpool 2-0 Porto.
45: The increasingly impressive Owen curls a delicious shot that Espinha frantically manages to palm away.
44: Porto break quickly and Paredes passes to Santos, who blazes a 25-yard shot high over the crossbar.
38: Gerrard's free-kick finds Owen unmarked 10 yards from goal. The young striker heads the ball into the ground, but it bounces past Espinha into the top of Porto's goal. Liverpool 2-0 Porto.
35: Porto's Dmitri Alenitchev plays a clever pass to put Clayton one-on-one with Westerveld, but the Liverpool keeper does well to smother the ball.
33: Murphy collects an excellent pass from Gerrard and hits a hopeful diagonal shot from the left-hand side of the area. Ricardo Silva is unable to stop the ball hitting the far post and going in. Porto appeal for handball, but the goal stands. Liverpool 1-0 Porto.
30: A chorus of boos welcome Secretario back into the fray.
25: Owen makes another lightning burst down the flank and is brought down by Secretario, who is shown the yellow card. The Porto defender goes down in a heap, but the referee will not allow him to receive treatment for several minutes because he thinks he is feigning injury. Eventually the player goes off.
21: Candido Costa wins a corner for Porto, but it is horribly wasted and the home side easily clear.
20: A great turn by Owen on the left is followed by a whipped cross into the box that is desperately cleared by Porto.
15: Steven Gerrard takes the ball on his chest and hits a fierce volley that Porto keeper Pedro Espinha tips over the crossbar.
13: Porto's Ricardo Silva is the first player to be booked following a crude challenge on Owen.
10: The home side win a corner following good work on the left from Vladimir Smicer. The ensuing set-piece evades everyone in the area and Porto clear.
5 minutes: Liverpool's Michael Owen evades two challenges on the right wing and plays a ball into the area that is cleared by Porto.
2005 GMT: Liverpool kick-off at an expectant Anfield.
Copyright - BBC
