IT was one of the greatest nights in the history of Middlesbrough Football Club as they overcame the odds to march into the UEFA Cup semi-final.

Boro needed to score first, they didn't, they needed luck, they didn't get much; what they got was a performance full of character, determination, quality and goals.

But the goal everyone had been fearing before the game came after 22 minutes.

A long Petric free-kick to the back post was headed back across goal by Boris Smiljanic and tucked in by Eduardo from inside the six-yard box.

The home side gave themselves a lifeline with 33 minutes played.

Midway inside the Basel half Yakubu just got to the ball first. Mark Viduka took over, powered past one challenge on the edge of the area and smashed a powerful drive which seemed to swerve as Zuberbuhler went one way and the ball the other.

A couple of minutes later Franck Queudrue was hurt in an aerial challenge and was cut above his left eye, only being allowed to continue once a big white bandage had been wrapped around his head.

There was a buzz when Jimmy Floyd Hasselbaink came out to warm up during the half-time interval.

When the teams took the field for the second half, with Southgate sprinting out, Hasselbaink took the place of Morrison and Boro went to 4-3-3.

With 56 minutes played a brilliant ball from Boateng 15 yards inside the Basel half picked out Mark Viduka, who rounded Zuberbuhler and slotted home - the roof lifted off the Riverside and there was still hope.

With 66 minutes played Franck Queudrue limped off to be replaced by Massimo Maccarone, who took up a position wide right of midfield, with Downing dropping back to cover when needed at left-back.

Basel were reduced to 10 men with 17 minutes to play as Majstorovic, booked for a foul on Hasselbaink after 51 minutes, slapped Boateng in front of the referee, was shown a second yellow and was sent-off.

With 12 minutes to play Jimmy Floyd Hasselbaink stroked home an unstoppable shot from just up from the D on the edge of the Basel box into the top right-hand corner of Zuberbuhler's net.

The fans were standing right round the ground as Rochemback shot for goal with 90 minutes played.

Zuberbuhler could only palm away to his right, Massimo Maccarone pounced shot for goal and Zuberbuhler couldn't keep it out ro take Boro inot the lead on aggregate for the first time.

There was still time for drama.

Deep into time added on Eduardo chased a long ball and Schwarzer had to raced off his line and turn the ball away for a corner, which was cleared.

The referee blew, the Riverside erupted, Basel players sank to their knees. Boro were in the semi-final of the UEFA Cup.

TEAMS

Middlesbrough: Schwarzer; Parnaby, Riggott, Southgate, Queudrue (Maccarone 66), Morrison (Hasselbaink 46), Boateng, Rochemback, Downing, Yakubu (Taylor 90), Viduka. Unused subs: Jones (gk); Davies, Doriva.

FC Basel: Zuberbuhler; Zanni, Majstorovic, Smiljanic, Berner, Ba, Delgado (Ergic 70), Petric, Degen (Chipperfield 60), Sterjovski (Quennoz 85), Eduardo. Unused subs: Crayton (gk); Kulaksizoglu, Rakitic.

REFEREE: Louri Baskakov, Russia.

SENT-OFF: Majstorovic, 51, foul on Hasselbaink; 73, slapping Boateng.

BOOKINGS

Middlesbrough: Riggott, 24, foul on Petric; Parnaby, 44, foul on Berner; Maccarone 90, removing shirt to celebrate.

FC Basel: Smiljanic, 90, foul.

ATTENDANCE: 24,521

CONDITIONS: Fine, cool with a gentle breeze.

WEBSITE BORO MAN OF THE MATCH: Mark Viduka