Football: Atletico coast past Milan into quarter-final

Atletico Madrid's Brazilian-born forward Diego da Silva Costa celebrates after scoring their first goal during the UEFA Champions League quarter-finals second leg football match Club Atletico de Madrid vs AC Milan at the Vicente Calderon stadium in M
Atletico Madrid's Brazilian-born forward Diego da Silva Costa celebrates after scoring their first goal during the UEFA Champions League quarter-finals second leg football match Club Atletico de Madrid vs AC Milan at the Vicente Calderon stadium in Madrid on March 11, 2014. -- PHOTO: AFP

MADRID (REUTERS) - Diego Costa struck twice as Atletico Madrid thumped AC Milan 4-1 on Tuesday to send the seven-time winners crashing out 5-1 on aggregate and advance to the Champions League quarter-final for the first time this century.

Costa, who also scored in Atletico's 1-0 win at the San Siro in the first leg of the last-16 tie, put the La Liga side ahead in the third minute at the Calderon with an acrobatic volley.

Kaka levelled with a header in the 27th before Arda Turan's deflected effort sailed past Christian Abbiati five minutes before half-time to restore the home team's lead.

Raul Garcia headed Atletico's third in the 71st minute before Costa struck again five minutes from time.

Atletico, who previously featured in the last eight in 1997 with a team featuring current coach Diego Simeone, thoroughly deserved their victory, while Milan's exit means there will be no Italian side in the quarter-final for the first time since 2009.

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