AP
Russian players celebrate the team's third goal during the quarter-final against the Netherlands in Basel yesterday. Russia defeated the Netherlands 3-1 to advance to the semi-finals.

BASEL, Switzerland (AP):

RUSSIA SCORED two goals in extra time yesterday to send the team into the semi-finals of the European Championship with a 3-1 upset win over the Netherlands.

Dimitry Torbinski and Andrei Arshavin scored within five minutes of each other in the second half of extra time. Roman Pavlyuchenko also scored for Russia, while Ruud van Nistelrooy scored for the Dutch in the 86th.

Russia, coached by former Netherlands manager Guus Hiddink, will face either Spain or Italy in the semi-finals on Thursday in Vienna, Austria.

"I don't want to use big words but it is almost a miracle," Hiddink said after hobbling out of his dugout to dance with his players. "It is unbelievable how the boys performed ... They outplayed tactically and physically the Dutch."

Coming off a draining do-or-die game on Wednesday against Sweden, the Russians were stronger than the Dutch stars who had sat out the last group game. It showed in the second half of extra time.

Deflected shot

Torbinski surged toward the far post in the 112th minute and hit a deep cross from Arshavin into the goal with the outside of his left foot.

Arshavin scored the final goal in the 116th when his shot deflected off John Heitinga and went through the legs of goalkeeper Edwin van der Sar.

"We could not get forward any more and they got the better of us," Netherlands defender Joris Mathijsen said.

Van Nistelrooy had temporarily saved the Dutch late in the match, proving no one is more lethal from close range. From a free kick by Rafael van der Vaart, he wrestled himself away from Sergei Ignashevich and scored with a diving header at the far post.

In extra time, the inexperienced Russians hung in and scored their third straight upset victory. And after Germany had beaten the sparkling Portugal and Turkey edged surging Croatia, another stunner was in the making.

There were only a few thousand Russians within a sea of orange among the 38,374 fans, but they kept chanting "Russia" long after the tens of thousands of Oranje fans had fallen silent.

Fans shocked

Pavlyuchenko scored his third goal of the tournament in the 56th when Sergei Semak found space in the centre to send a low cross into the heart of the penalty area, where the Spartak Moscow striker beat Mathijsen and scored into the near corner.

Van der Sar, who had kept the Dutch in the game up to that point and was by far the team's best player, had no answer.

And again, there was no answer when Pavlyuchenko broke free on the right in the 96th, cut inside and shot past van der Sar. This time the ball crashed onto the bar.

With the result, Hiddink further added to his global credentials. He led South Korea to a surprising semi-final place at the 2002 World Cup and Australia into the second round four years later - two stunning surprises. He also took the Netherlands to the 1998 World Cup semi-finals.

Now, his latest team is two games away from winning the European Championship.