Villa went into the match needing to beat Group C leaders Atlante of Mexico by two clear goals if they were to reach the last four after suffering a 1-0 defeat to Malaga in their opening match of the pre-season tournament.

And things were looking bad for Villa when Curtis Davies put through his own goal in the 20th minute to give CONCACAF Champions League winners Atlante, who beat Malaga 3-1 in their first outing, an early advantage.

However, Villa hit back and were on level terms before the break when young substitute Marc Albrighton netted after Atlante goalkeeper Federico Vilar had saved John Carew's header.

Albrighton had replaced Petrov in the 21st minute after the Bulgarian midfielder suffered what the Villa website later reported was a dislocated shoulder.

Villa started the second half still needing two more goals to get through to the semi-finals, and they managed to get both of them within 15 minutes.

Carew fired home Villa's second just three minutes after the restart and then England winger Ashley Young headed home Albrighton's cross on the hour mark to put the Premier League side 3-1 ahead and that was enough to secure their semi-final spot.

Martin O'Neill's men will now meet either Porto or Besiktas - who are currently playing each other in Seville - in Friday's semi-final, while the other semi pits big-spending Real Madrid against Italian giants Juventus.

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O`Neill told AVTV after the match: "Naturally I'm delighted. I thought our second-half performance was excellent.

"I`m pleased because the semi-final gives us another competitive game. It comes around rather quickly on Friday night but when we set out in the first place, it was an aim of ours to go as far as we could.

"I`m delighted to be here in the semi-finals. Judging by the reaction of the players in the dressing room after the game, they are too."

Villa will meet Porto in the last four after the Portuguese champions played out a goalless with Besiktas at Sevilla`s Ramon Sanchez Pizjuan stadium.

Porto only needed a point to top Group D after beating reigning Peace Cup champions Lyon 2-0 in their opening match, and Jesualdo Ferreira`s side achieved just that.