Munich, Germany--Robert Lewandowski scored twice on Tuesday as Bayern Munich powered into the Champions League semi-finals for the fourth year in succession with a 6-1 second-leg routing of ten-man Porto.
Needing to over turn a two-goal deficit after last Wednesday's shock 3-1 first-leg defeat at Porto, Bayern produced a devastating first-half display to claim five goals and eventually won the tie 7-4 on aggregate.
"It couldn't have gone better," beamed goal-scorer Thomas Mueller.
"Sometimes it's fun to play with your backs against the wall.
"We all had hopes, but no one expected that."
Lewandowski now has 22 goals in all competitions while Mueller, Jerome Boateng and Thiago Alcantara also grabbed first-half goals.
"Many people thought we couldn't do it, but we are FC Bayern Munich," said Lewandowski.
"We knew we had to step on the gas, but to go five goals up at half-time is really crazy."
The game's tempo dropped after the break allowing Porto captain Jackson Martinez to score a consolation goal.
Porto finished with ten men when defender Ivan Marcano received a second yellow card just before Xabi Alonso crashed home a free-kick -- their coach Julen Lopategui was also sent from the touchline.
The scoreline matches Porto's record away defeat in Europe when they lost 6-1 at AEK Athens in the defunct European Champion Clubs' Cup in 1978.
Having routed AS Roma 7-1 away in the group stages and mauled Shakhtar Donestk 7-0 in Munich in the last 16, Bayern produced more clinical finishing in the first-half.
The Germans kept alive the dream of repeating their 2013 treble of Champions League, Bundesliga and German Cup crowns by going into Friday's semi-finals draw.
AFP
