Brazil striker Adriano was in scintillating form

Inter Milan reached the Champions League quarter-finals as Adriano scored a hat-trick to knock out holders Porto.

Adriano's deflected shot opened the scoring on five minutes and after the break he flicked the ball into the top corner with the outside of his boot.

Jorge Costa gave Porto a lifeline when he poked the ball in from a corner but Adriano then slotted in a third goal.

The tie was played a week late because the San Siro played host to AC Milan and Manchester United last week.

Adriano's menace had waned of late after a sensational start to the season, but he quickly showed how devastating he can be.

After handing off Costa, he fired a shot which sailed over keeper Vitor Baia after a deflection.

Inter quickly settled into a rhythm which typified the pomp and posture of a team confident in their defence.

Stroking the ball around at will - and in no hurry to threaten Porto's goal - the Italians seemed to be teasing their opponents into a mistake.

It took over 20 minutes for current champions Porto to show they would not give up their title without a fight.

But the initial questions they asked of Inter's defence were comfortably answered, with Diego and Maniche producing limp efforts on goal.

Tricks from Juan Veron's repertoire were not in keeping with a game most notable for lacking a mastery of the basics and awash with awful passing.

It was, perhaps, motive for the superb Adriano to go on a number of audacious solo runs.

Adriano wheels away after scoring his second goal of the night

Sadly, the striker's flashes of brilliance were too often followed by more wayward passes.

However, with Porto impotent in attack and Inter content to defend their tie-winning lead, the Adriano show was most welcome.

Porto brought on winger Ricardo Quaresma at half-time.

And the Portuguese international was rapidly into the action, charging forward with authority and providing a much-needed offensive spark.

After giving warning twice, Quaresma's third time was almost lucky as his driven shot shaved the upright.

But as Porto chased for an equaliser, they left gaps at the back.

Veron's poor touch and misplaced pass let Porto off the hook as Adriano waited in the box.

Moments later, Cruz provided the throughball which allowed Adriano to demonstrate his eye for goal.

And an exquisite shot off the outside of the Brazilian's left boot arrowed into the top right corner.

Yet Inter were not quite home and dry as Porto skipper Costa set up a tense finish.

On 69 minutes, he swept the ball in after Toldo failed to cope with a corner.

However, the strike seemed - at last - to stoke Inter's fire as the hosts went on to carve out numerous chances.

Dejan Stankovic volleyed wide before Manuel cleared off the line as confusion reigned over a not-given off-side decision.

But Adriano finally accepted another chance as he checked inside the defence before stroking the ball beyond Baia.

Inter Milan: Toldo, Javier Zanetti, Materazzi, Mihajlovic, Ze Maria, Cambiasso, Cristiano Zanetti, Stankovic (Gonzalez 83), Veron (Van der Meyde 89), Adriano, Cruz (Martins 76).
Subs Not Used: Carini, Emre, Gamarra, Vieri.

Booked: Cristiano Zanetti.

Goals: Adriano 5, 63, 87.

FC Porto: Vitor Baia, Jorge Costa, Pedro Emanuel (Pepe 81), Ricardo Costa (Postiga 66), Costinha, Nuno Valente, Maniche, Diego, Seitaridis, Claudio (Quaresma 46), McCarthy. Subs Not Used: Nuno, Raul Meireles, Paulo Machado, Ivanildo.

Booked: Nuno Valente, Maniche, Jorge Costa.

Goals: Jorge Costa 69.

Att: 71,000

Ref: Terje Hauge (Norway).