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Villarreal 1 Internazionale 0 <i>(Villarreal win on away goals)</i>: Arruabarrena sinks Inter

Gordon Tynan
Wednesday 05 April 2006 00:00 BST
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Villarreal will face either Arsenal or Juventus in the last four of the Champions' League after reaching the semi-finals in their first season in the competition. Rodolfo Arruabarrena's goal secured a 1-0 win here last night and a victory under the away-goals rule, after a 2-2 aggregate draw.

Internazionale restored Marco Materazzi to the back four and their revamped defence was comfortable throughout the first half, restricting their hosts to a few long-range efforts.

In the second half the Spaniards took control, their patient passing game finally reaping its reward when Juan Riquelme curled in a free-kick which eluded Francisco Toldo, leaving Arruabarrena clear to head into an empty net.

"I was convinced we would beat Inter," said Villarreal's Chilean coach Manuel Pellegrini. "In the second half perhaps we deserved to score more than one goal. This isn't a miracle or a dream. It's based on hard work and belief."

Villarreal (4-4-2): Viera; Javi Venta, Alvarez, Pena, Arruabarrena; Senna, Tacchinardi, Riquelme, Sorin (Josico, 78); Forlan (Calleja, 90), Jose Mari ( Franco, 78). Substitutes not used: Barbosa (gk), Arzo, Roger, Santi Cazorla.

Internazionale (4-4-2): Toldo; Cordoba, Materazzi, Samuel, Zanetti; Figo (Mihajlovic, 75), Cambiasso, Veron (Cruz, 85), Stankovic; Recoba (Martins, 56), Adriano. Substitutes not used: Julio Cesar (gk), Burdisso, Pizarro, Gonzalez.

Referee: K Vassaras (Greece).

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