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The Honolulu Advertiser
Updated at 12:09 p.m., Wednesday, April 15, 2009

Soccer: Manchester United, Arsenal advance to semifinals

By PAUL LOGOTHETIS
AP Sports Writer

PORTO, Portugal — Cristiano Ronaldo scored on a spectacular 40-yard shot in the sixth minute, and defending champion Manchester United defeated Porto 1-0 Wednesday night to advance to the European Champions League semifinals with a 3-2 aggregate victory.

Manchester United extended its Champions League record unbeaten streak to 23 games and will meet Arsenal in an all-English semifinal, hosting the Gunners at Old Trafford on April 29 and traveling to London's Emirates Stadium on May 5.

Arsenal defeated Spain's Villarreal 3-0 on goals by Theo Walcott, Emmanuel Adebayor and Robin van Persie to advance on 4-1 aggregate.

In the other semifinal, Chelsea plays Barcelona on April 28 and May 6. Three English teams are in the semifinals for the second straight year, and at least one will be in the final on May 27 at Rome. Last year, Manchester United defeated Chelsea on penalty kicks in the final at Moscow following a 1-1 tie.

Manchester United became the first English club to win at Porto in 12 matches. Ronaldo began his run from just inside the Porto half, and his rising shot beat diving goalkeeper Helton and went into the top corner of goal.

At London, Walcott put Arsenal ahead in the 10th minute, Adebayor scored in the 60th and Van Persie converted a penalty kick in the 69th after Diego Godin upended Walcott just inside the penalty area. Villarreal's Sebastian Eguren received his second yellow card of the match from German referee Wolfgang Stark during the ensuing argument and was ejected.