Four-goal Falcao puts Porto on brink of final

PORTO stormed back from a goal down at half-time thanks to four goals from Radamel Falcao to beat Villarreal 5-1 in the first leg of the Europa League semi-finals and almost certainly set up an all-Portuguese final.

Ruben Garcia had put the Spaniards ahead in the 45th minute.

Judging by how close the first half was, that looked set to be a priceless away goal but Porto's second-half performance means that strike should now be immaterial.

Falcao equalised from the penalty spot four minutes into the second half and fellow Colombian international Freddy Guarin made it 2-1 in the 61st minute when he headed a rebound under goalkeeper Diego Lopez.

Falcao stabbed in Hulk's cross after a counter-attack six minutes later and the striker took his tally for the competition to 15 with headers in the 75th and 90th minutes.

Porto will face either Benfica or Braga but the Lisbon side have the advantage after they won their semi-final first leg 2-1 at the Stadium of Light.

Their goals came in the second half from Jardel and Oscar Cardozo as the first-ever all-Portuguese semi-final in a European competition burst into life after an uneventful first half with three goals in ten minutes.

Centre-back Jardel poked the ball in from close range in the 50th minute after Cardozo's header hit the post. Vandinho headed in the equaliser from a free-kick three minutes later then Cardozo found the target with a tremendous free-kick.

Braga's away goal from veteran Brazilian Vandinho could be crucial, although he will miss the second leg after picking up a first-half caution. Benfica will, however, also be without their key playmaker Pablo Aimar after he was cautioned for the foul that led to Vandinho's goal.