FC Porto 0-1 Man Utd (agg 2-3)
Cristiano Ronaldo struck a stunning winner as Manchester United saw off the threat of Porto to seal a Champions League semi-final tie against Arsenal.
Ronaldo's thunderous early strike from just shy of 40 yards flew across goal and into the top corner.
Nemanja Vidic missed a great chance from five yards late in the first half and Dimitar Berbatov had a shot saved.
Lisandro Lopez might have scored a dramatic late goal for Porto, but Edwin van der Sar saved his weak shot.
It was United's first clean sheet since their Champions League victory over Inter Milan on 11 March and it could not have been more timely as United became the first English club to win at Porto in European competition.
With Rio Ferdinand restored to the side after a three-game absence there was an increased assuredness to the United backline and in truth Porto failed to create any clear-cut openings until Lisandro's 85th-minute chance.
However, United's failure to score a decisive second goal ensured a nervous final few minutes to the tie as Porto pushed for the equaliser that would have put them through on the away goals rule.
The first 20 minutes of the match must have been close to perfect for United manager Sir Alex Ferguson, who was presiding over his 150th Champions League game.
Wayne Rooney started on the right with Ryan Giggs on the left and Ronaldo supporting Berbatov up front. This formation allowed Ronaldo to occasionally drop deep in search of possession, which he did after six minutes before smashing his amazing goal.
United dominated possession, allowing them to play the game at a steady, controlled tempo, and there were few alarms for Van der Sar, who allowed a free-kick from Bruno Alves to drift wide of his goal.
Porto gradually forced their way into the match, slowly pushing United towards their own goal, and Van der Sar was eventually forced into action to save Christian Sapanuru's shot on the turn while Bruno Alves headed wide from a free-kick.
The home team lost momentum when Lucho Gonzalez was stretchered off the field after a delay while he received treatment and United went on to create a brilliant chance to take full control of the match.
John O'Shea flicked on Giggs's corner and the ball dropped invitingly to the unmarked Vidic but the defender's effort flew wastefully over the crossbar.
Raul Meireles and Hulk shot over after the break while Berbatov collected a beautifully weighted pass from Rooney but his subsequent shot lacked power and Helton saved.
By this stage it was pouring down in Porto but Van der Sar made no mistake with a Hulk free-kick, while Rolando headed wide beyond the far post for the home side.
The visitors continued to press and the match became increasingly tense as United dropped deeper and deeper.
But it was United, who play Everton in an FA Cup semi-final on Sunday, who went close to a second goal, with Helton making a good low save to claw away Ronaldo's shot.
FC Porto: Helton, Sapunaru (Costa 80), Rolando, Bruno Alves, Cissokho, Lucho Gonzalez (Mariano Gonzalez 31), Fernando, Raul Meireles, Lopez, Hulk, Rodriguez (Farias 64).
Subs Not Used: Nuno, Stepanov, Guarin, Madrid.
Man Utd: Van der Sar, O'Shea, Ferdinand, Vidic, Evra, Giggs, Carrick, Anderson (Scholes 78), Rooney, Berbatov (Nani 68), Ronaldo.
Subs Not Used: Foster, Neville, Evans, Tevez, Macheda.
Booked: Vidic, Evra.
Goals: Ronaldo 6.
Att: 50,000
Ref: Massimo Busacca (Switzerland).
BBC Sport Player Rater man of the match: Manchester United's Cristiano Ronaldo on 8.19 (on 90 minute
Sir Alex Ferguson hailed Cristiano Ronaldo's wonder strike, as Manchester United sealed a Champions League semi-final showdown against Arsenal.
Ronaldo's 40-yard strike earned Ferguson's side a 3-2 aggregate victory as United became the first English side to win in Porto.
"It was unbelievable. A magnificent hit. Absolutely unbelievable," Ferguson said of Ronaldo's sixth-minute goal.
"The goalkeeper's got no chance," added Ferguson.
"To do it at that point gave us a real platform to go into the game," added Ferguson, who became the first manager to reach his sixth Champions League semi-final.
"We wanted to start the game quickly with good tempo ... but to get a start like that, no-one can expect it, no-one can expect that type of goal."
Ronaldo himself described the goal as the best of his career, admitting he could not wait to watch it again.
"It is the best I have scored," he said.
"It was a fantastic strike and I can't wait to see it again on DVD. I am very happy with it."
United's victory was built on a solid defence with the returning Rio Ferdinand making a huge difference to the World, European and English champions.
Porto rarely looked like breaking through as United kept their first clean sheet since 11 March with Ferguson's side conceding 11 goals in the last five games.
And Ferguson, who was taking charge of his 150th Champions League clash, admitted the returning Ferdinand had made a huge difference to United.
"We defended very, very well and that was the key to it really, because if we get back to that foundation of not giving away goals then we can do well," Ferguson said.
"They had to chase. That early goal had them on the back foot. I don't think they made any chances in the match."
United have now stretched their unbeaten run in the Champions League to 23 games, winning a second leg away from home for the first time since the 1999 semi-final triumph in Turin against Juventus.
"We tried to change and spread the team around the field and hope Manchester would make some mistakes," Jose Gomes, who replaced suspended coach Jesualdo Ferreira, said.
"We feel very bad. You can understand our emotions. We feel that wasn't a very just result.
"They scored one goal today and it was scored by the best player in the world."
United semi-final with Arsenal will be the first time they have met English opposition in a two-legged European tie.
Arsenal beat United 2-1 at the Emirates Stadium earlier in the season, and Ferguson is predicting another classic encounter.
"It would be tough no matter who we played but the fact it is another English side gives a different type of spice to it," said Ferguson.
"We are two good footballing sides, so it should be a terrific semi-final.
"Our game earlier in the season was fantastic. It was the way football should be played and we will look forward to it.
"The first leg is at home, so 1-0 would be perfect for us. But it is not going to be easy."
SD's comment: This should be a very thrilling encounter, Arsenal has played second fiddle to United for so many seasons now, and Arsene Wenger I'm sure is considering his chance of becoming the Next European Champions and that results should satisfy the hungry appetite of The Gunners' followers.
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