By Patrick Vignal
Reuters
Tuesday, April 9, 2002; 5:16 PM

_____Champions League_____ Draws/Tables/Fixtures: • Quarterfinals • Second Phase • First Phase _____Results_____ 2nd Leg • Bayer Leverkusen 4, Liverpool 2 • Barcelona 3, Panathinaikos 1 1st Leg • Deportivo 0, Manchester United 2 • Bayern Munich 2, Madrid 1 • Liverpool 1, Bayer Leverkusen 0 • Panathinaikos 1, Barcelona 0

LEVERKUSEN, Germany, April 9 – A late goal from Lucio gave Bayer Leverkusen a thrilling 4-2 victory over Liverpool on Tuesday to take the German club into the semifinals of the Champions League for the first time.

The Brazilian defender scored with an angled shot from inside the box six minutes from time to bring the Bundesliga leaders a 4-3 quarter-final win on aggregate after a breathtaking second leg.

The visitors, who 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 which 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 full-back 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 Bundesliga leaders should 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 on Wednesday.

HOULLIER EMOTIIONS

Liverpool had their chances in a game with plenty of emotion for manager Gerard Houllier, making his first foreign trip since suffering a heart scare last year.

Owen, in particular, came close on several occasions.

The England striker, looking rusty after a series of hamstring injuries, lost a couple of duels with Leverkusen goalkeeper Joerg Butt before the break and hit the far post from close range early in the second half.

A scintillating display from Ballack and great team morale were the keys to a memorable victory for Leverkusen, who have never previously appeared in the semifinals of Europe's showcase club event.

Liverpool, four times European Cup champions, had entered the tie full of hope, having played 15 European matches away from home without defeat.

The last time they had lost on away before Tuesday was to Celta Vigo in November 1998, soon after Houllier took sole charge.

It was Liverpool's fifth game against German opponents this season, the English club having previously taken on Bayern Munich in the Super Cup and Borussia Dortmund earlier in their Champions League campaign.

Tuesday's defeat means they have now won three and drawn one before losing the one that really mattered.

Leverkusen have plenty to look forward to as they are four points clear of second-placed Borussia Dortmund with four Bundesliga matches left and look set to land their first German crown.