The final four of the Champions League won't feature an English team for the first time since 2003 after Bayern Munich ousted Manchester United on Wednesday, while Lyon reached its first semifinal by eliminating Bordeaux.
Bayern trailed 3-0 before losing 3-2 at United to draw 4-4 on aggregate and advance on away goals, becoming the first German team to make the final four since 2002. Lyon also lost the return leg, going down 1-0 at Bordeaux but heading through 3-2 winner overall.
Incredible comeback
“It was an incredible comeback from three goals down,” Bayern coach Louis van Gaal said. “In the first 20 minutes, Manchester United played us off the park, then we got back into the game with a great goal from Ivica Olic.
“At half-time, I was confident we could get back into the game and get the result.”
Four-time champion Bayern hosts Lyon in the first leg of the semifinals on April 21, with the return six days later in France. The winner will play either holder Barcelona or Inter Milan in the May 22 final at Madrid.
Inter Milan, which is in the semifinals for the first time in seven years, hosts Barcelona on April 20 and plays in Spain eight days later.
Rooney returns
At Old Trafford, Wayne Rooney made a surprise return for United after injuring his ankle in last week's first leg, and was involved in both goals as the host wiped out Bayern's 2-1 advantage inside seven minutes after goals from Darron Gibson and Nani.
Nani gave United — last season's beaten finalist — a 3-0 lead when he scored in the 41st. But Ivica Olic began Bayern's comeback two minutes later when he left Michael Carrick flat-footed and slid a low, angled shot past goalkeeper Edwin van der Sar.
Three-time champion United played with 10 men after Rafael da Silva was sent off in the 50th for fouling Franck Ribery to receive a second yellow card.
The Brazilian defender had already been booked for a petulant kick after being fouled by Mark van Bommel.
With Rooney replaced after bursting a blood vessel below his right ankle, Bayern took control.
Arjen Robben scored from a volley in the 74th to send the German team through.
Lloris the hero
Lyon had goalkeeper Hugo Lloris to thank after he leaped high to palm away a powerful header from Bordeaux midfielder Geraldo Wendel in the 87th minute that could have taken the host through on away goals.
When the referee blew for the final whistle, Lyon's players jumped on Lloris in jubilation, forming a mass scrum on the field.
Bordeaux striker Marouane Chamakh scored right on half-time, sliding home a cross from Benoit Tremoulinas that was diverted by teammate Jaroslav Plasil. But despite ending a three-game losing run in all competitions, Bordeaux was out of the competition.
“It was a match that was not easy,” Lyon coach Claude Puel said. “Even though we told ourselves that we should play as it was 0-0 in the first leg, we felt a bit of pressure. We were too much on the back foot in the first half. We handled better the second half because Bordeaux played at a slower tempo.”
There have been three English teams in the semifinals of the competition for the past three seasons.
“All the English teams were expected to get to the semifinals as we have been doing in the last five years,” United manager Alex Ferguson said. “But I don't think it has cast a shadow over the game — I still think it's the best league in Europe and the most competitive league. You don't always get what you want and we're all suffering.”
The results:
Bordeaux (Chamakh 45) 1 bt Lyon 0. Lyon wins 3-2 on aggregate .
Manchester United 3 (Gibson 3, Nani 7, 41) bt Bayern Munich 2 (Olic 43, Robben 74). Tie ends 4-4 aggregate, Bayern wins on away goals rule .
