Alan Thompson's goal helped Celtic into the last four

The Scottish champions will be at home for the first leg on 10 April before travelling to Oporto for the return leg a fortnight later.

The draw is as kind as Celtic could have hoped for, with Porto and Lazio the other teams left in the competition.

Boavista are currently eighth in the Portugese league but have disposed of Paris St Germain, Hertha Berlin and Malaga en route to the Uefa Cup last four.

Celtic striker John Hartson, whose goal clinched the victory over Liverpool, welcomed the draw.

"I think the draw we all would have wanted was Boavista at home," admitted the Welshman.

"I am particularly pleased to have a home draw first as it's been good to us all the way through and hopefully that will be a good omen for us."

Any of the teams left in the competition will feel they have a chance of winning it Martin O'Neill

But Celtic manager Martin O'Neill refused to accept his side had been handed a favourable draw.

"I'm genuinely pleased to be in the semi-final," he said. "It wouldn't have mattered who we got."

"I don't think we would fear any side any more but we will have plenty of respect for them.

"I don't know too much about Boavista, but they're in the semi-final and they reached the second stage of the Champions League last year.

"But any of the teams left in the competition will feel they have a chance of winning it."

Ironically, Boavista were knocked out of this season's Champions League at the same stage as Celtic - the third qualifying round - by Auxerre, the side Liverpool beat to book their place in the Uefa Cup quarter final against Celtic.

Having beaten teams of the calibre of Celta Vigo and Liverpool, Celtic must be considered favourites to book a place in the final, which takes place in Seville on 21 May.

Celtic have come up against Boavista once before in European competition, in the 1975/76 European Cup Winners' Cup.

On that occasion, the Scots came out on top, winning the second leg 3-1 after a goalless first leg.

Celtic have been told they will receive 1,000 tickets for the game in Oporto, with Boavista's Estadio do Bessa XXI stadium holding only 15,000 spectators.

But Celtic chief executive Ian McLeod has said he is hopeful that a deal can be negotiated to secure more tickets for the Scottish club.

It emerged later on Friday that a decision on how many tickets Celtic get will not be made until the middle of next week.

In the other semi-final tie, Lazio were originally drawn at home to Porto in the first leg, but that has been reversed in order to avoid a second-leg clash with Boavista's home tie against Celtic in the same city.

Semi-final draw:

Celtic v Boavista

Lazio v Porto