Liverpool's Fernando Torres celebrates after scoring against Benfica at Anfield Stadium, Liverpool, Thursday. - AP Atletico and Hamburg thru PARIS - Liverpool and Fulham combined Thursday to rescue England's European pride which was so badly bruised by the Champions League exits of Manchester United and Arsenal. Fernando Torres scored twice as Liverpool reached the Europa League semifinals with a 4-1 win over Benfica, which clinched a 5-3 aggregate triumph and a last-four clash with Atletico Madrid, the Spanish striker's former club. Unfashionable Fulham, which has already knocked out mighty Juventus, was indebted to a 19-second goal from in-form striker Bobby Zamora to see off German champion Wolfsburg 1-0 and a 3-1 aggregate victory. Roy Hodgson's Cottagers will face another German side Hamburg in the semifinals as the prospects of an all-English final on May 12 were kept alive. Rafael Benitez's Liverpool, trailing 2-1 from the first leg in Lisbon last week, was on its way at Anfield thanks to two goals in seven first half minutes from Dirk Kuyt and Lucas. Torres added a third in the second half before Oscar Cardozo's free-kick put Benfica within one goal of going through on away goals. Just as Liverpool was getting nervous, Torres struck again in the closing stages as the Reds continue their bid for a first major European trophy since the 2005 Champions League. Zamora, who scored in the 2-1 first leg win in London, bolstered his hopes of an England World Cup call with a goal after just 19 seconds at Wolfsburg as Fulham reached the last four of a European competition for the first time. His goal was out of the top drawer as he neatly turned inside Jan Simunek to find the target with a sweet left-foot drive. Hamburg, which will also host the final, saw off Standard Liege in their quarterfinal winning 3-1 in Belgium for a 5-2 aggregate win. Croatian international Mladen Petric scored twice while Paolo Guerrero added a third in injury-time. It was a rare bright spot for the Peruvian striker who earlier had been banned for five Bundesliga matches for hurling a bottle at a heckling Hamburg fan last weekend. Quique Sanchez Flores guided Atletico Madrid to its first European semifinal in 11 years after a 0-0 draw against fellow Spaniards Valencia put it through on the away goals rule. The first game ended in a 2-2 draw. United to sign Hernandez Manchester United will sign its first Mexican player after agreeing to take striker Javier Hernandez from Chivas for next season. United says the Mexico international has passed a medical examination and will cost an undisclosed fee. The 21-year-old Hernandez will become a United player on July 1 if he gets a work permit from the British government. United will play a preseason friendly at Chivas Stadium in Guadalajara this summer as part of the transfer agreement. United manager Alex Ferguson said Thursday that Hernandez is “an exciting young striker.” Guti leaving Real Jose Maria “Guti” Gutierrez says he will face Barcelona this weekend for the last time as a Real Madrid player. The 33-year-old playmaker has been with Madrid since 1995 but told Onda Madrid radio Thursday his future wasn't clear. Guti says “it will definitely be my last clasico. Right now I don't see any possibilities of continuing.” Although Guti has one more year left on his contract, he says his decision “is to leave here.” Guti believes he has another two years of professional football left in him, and he wants to play in either England, Italy or the Middle East.
