Fulham struck late to earn a dramatic draw against Manchester United.

**Brede Hangeland scored a last-minute equaliser to deny Manchester United victory in a gripping Barclays Premier League match at Craven Cottage.

United appeared to be heading for victory when Hangeland produced an unfortunate own goal with seven minutes go.

Manchester United failed to win full in the second week. Results were obtained after the Red Devils balanced 2-2 by Fulham.

The match between Fulham counter MU held at Craven Cottage on Sunday (08/22/2010).

Line-up:

Fulham: Stockdale, Hangeland, Konchesky, Pantsil, Etuhu, Murphy (81 greening '), Duff, Davies (Gera 90'), Zamora, Dempsey (Dembele 61 ')

Manchester United: Van der Sar, Evans, Vidic, Evra, O'Shea, Scholes, Fletcher, Park (Nani 67 '), Valencia (Giggs 75'), Berbatov, Hernandez (Owen 75 ')

Clint Dempsey's inspiring a victory, Stefano Okaka complement

Fulham 3
- Dempsey 45,
- Cole (og) 58,
- Okaka 79

West Ham United 2
- Cole 61,
- Guillermo Franco 90

**The opening exchanges at Craven Cottage were pretty dull; the home side looking unsurprisingly drained after their mid-week exploits while the visitors looked as toothless and bereft of ideas as they have looked since mid-week last August!

Schwarzer pulled off a good save to stop a Mark Noble shot on the turn after 23 minutes while Dempsey came close three minutes later when his shot grazed the bar. Da Costa produced another good save from the Fulham keeper after 40 minutes when he struck hard from range but these were rare moments in a game that looked locked on stalemate until Dempsey hit home on the stroke of half-time following Davies' fine through ball.

In the second period, a Riise cross was volleyed over his own crossbar by Matthew Upson when it might have gone anywhere and from the resulting corner, Fulham went 2-0. The ball was cleared by Faubert but only to Baird whose shot - if you can call it that - was headed for the hoardings on the other side of the pitch until it struck Carlton Cole and flew into the net.

The Hammers immediately made changes with Faubert and IIan coming off for Diamanti and Franco and the move was rewarded within seconds when Noble's cross from a free-kick was headed in by Cole for his first goal in ten games. It could have been a chance for the visitors to pressure the home side but the game was gifted to Fulham ten minutes after when Spector was easily dispossessed by Nevland who passed in front of the goal for an unmarked Okaka to slide home easily. It was a moment that summed up West Ham's season.

Franco scored a 90th minute consolation after exceptional work by Scott Parker to make it 3-2 but it was all too little and all too late.

Squads :

Fulham : Schwarzer, Konchesky, Pantsil, Baird, Smalling, Riise, Dempsey (Elm 85), Greening, Davies (Okaka Chuka 70), Dikgacoi, Nevland

West Ham : Green, Upson, Spector, Faubert (Alessandro Diamanti 61), Da Costa, Parker, Kovac, Noble, Behrami (Stanislas 82), Ilan (Franco 61), Cole

Fulham have dramatically advanced to the Europa League final after beat Hamburg 2-1

HAMBURG 1
- Petric 22'

FULHAM 2
- Davies 70'
- Gera 76'

**Fulham have dramatically advanced to the Europa League final after coming from a goal down in the second half to beat Hamburg 2-1 on the night and on aggregate.

Mladen Petric fired the visitors in front with a critical away goal in the 22nd minute when he curled in a phenomenal free kick beyond Fulham goalkeeper Mark Schwarzer from 30 yards.

Hamburg seemed totally in control until just before the hour mark, when hobbled Fulham striker Bobby Zamora was replaced by Clint Dempsey.

Eleven minutes later, Fulham pulled the score level when Simon Davies scored a fine goal on two touches - the first to elude Guy Demel and the second to slot past goalkeeper Frank Rost.

Then, in the 76th minute, Fulham completed the turnaround off a corner kick when Davies effort deflected out into the path of Zoltan Gera for a calm finish.

Ruud van Nistelrooy missed a late shot in stoppage time, but Hamburg had been completely deflated by the goals.

Fulham now advance to the Europa League final which is held this season, ironically, in Hamburg.

Team Line-Ups:

Fulham: Schwarzer, Konchesky, Hughes, Hangeland, Pantsil (Nevland 75 '), Etuhu, Duff, Murphy, Davies, Gera, Zamora (Dempsey 58')

Hamburg: Rost; Demel, Mathijsen, Boateng, Jarolím (Rozenhal 91 '), Ze Roberto, Pitroipa, Aogo, Tesche (Rincon 56') (Guerrero 79 '), Van Nistelrooy, Petric

Brede Hangeland open goal to Fulham walk out of the drop-zone

FULHAM 2
- Okaka 47,
- Hangeland 58

WIGAN ATHLETIC 1
- Scotland 34

**Fulham, distracted of late by their outstanding European adventure and the recent excitement of the midweek tie over Wolfsburg, were looking to end a poor recent run of domestic form that had seen them fail to win in the last four Premier League fixtures.

Wigan, meanwhile, were looking to ease their relegation fears sitting a mere four points above the drop zone before the game. The capital has not been a productive destination for the Latics this season, having conceded 13 goals in their last two visits to London, and the 3-0 loss to Manchester City earlier in the week served only to deepen Roberto Martinez’s problems.

There was no reprieve for Fulham though in the 34th minute when the Latics grabbed the lead 1-0 through a half-volley from Jason Scotland that caught Mark Schwarzer out at his near post, after the hosts had allowed Marcelo Moreno to nod down for the former Swansea hitman.

Fulham drew level though less than two minutes into the second half when substitute Okaka flicked the ball past Kirkland with his first touch after good work down the left by the impressive Gera, 1-1 position.

Duff’s corner was well delivered but Brede Hangeland was left completely unmarked by the Wigan defence and was able to direct his header in off the post. Roberto Martinez has at times this season been disparaging of defensively efficient teams, but he will surely have been angered by the lack of organization in his own rear guard which allowed Fulham to take the lead.

Team Line-Ups :

Fulham : Mark Schwarzer, Paul Konchesky, Brede Hangeland, Aaron Hughes, Zoltan Gera, * Danny Murphy (Chris Baird, 88), Damien Duff, Dickson Etuhu, Clint Dempsey, Simon Davies, David Elm (Stefano Chuka Okaka, 46)

Wigan Athletic : Chris Kirkland, Paul Scharner, Titus Bramble, Mario Melchiot, Maynor Figueroa, Charles N'Zogbia (Ben Watson, 86), James McCarthy, Mohamed Diame, * Jason Scotland (Victor Moses, 61), Marcelo Moreno (Scott Sinclair, 85), Hugo Rodallega

Santa Cruz and Carlos Tevez scores, giving hope maintain his side's Champions League position.

FULHAM 1
- Murphy (pen) 75

Manchester City 2
- Santa Cruz 7,
- Tevez 36

**Manchester City raising expectations on after Santa Cruz and Carlos Tevez scores in deflates Fulham's at Craven Cottage to maintain his side's Champions League.

City immediately broke on the counter attack after Kompany’s clearance and Bellamy raced down the left wing before cutting inside to strike right-footed against the post and the ball fell to Santa Cruz, who reacted sharply to tap in from close range to give Roberto Mancini’s side the lead, 1-0.

City were content to probe until Bellamy skipped down the left and Bellamy was a constant threat to the Fulham back four and he had a hand in City’s second goal after he picked out Tevez in the area. The Argentine used his chest to control the ball, and under pressure from Smalling, before releasing Tevez into the space to slip in his 22nd goal of a productive season, 2-0 City lead.

Fulham failed to create many chances in the second half but were awarded a penalty when Lee Probert pointed to the spot after Barry was ruled to have handled in the area following Baird’s right wing cross. Murphy promptly dispatched the spot-kick to pull a goal back for the Cottagers.

The end result remains the position 2-1 to Manchester City advantage.

Team Line-ups:

Fulham: Mark Schwarzer; Chris Smailling; Aaron Hughes; Paul Konchensky; Chris Baird (Bjorn Riise '81); Dickson Ethuhu; Danny Murphy; Zoltan Gera (Stefano Okaka Chūka '56); Damien Duff, Bobby Zamora (Clint Dempsey '52)

Manchester City: Shay Given; Vincent Kompany; Kolo Toure 'Pablo Zabaleta; Gareth Barry; Patrick Vieira; Roque Santa Cruz (Nigel de Jong '79); Carlos Tevez; Javier Garrido; Craig Bellamy (Nedum Onouha '90); Adam Johnson ( Shaun Wright-Phillips '84)

Goal crucial Clint Dempsey send to the quarter-finals in Europa League

FULHAM 4
- Zamora 9,
- Gera 39,
- Gera (pen) 49,
- Dempsey 82

JUVENTUS 1
- Trezeguet 2

**Fulham trounced European giants Juventus 4-1 (5-4 on aggregate) at Craven Cottage to reach the Europa League quarter-finals in a stunning victory Thursday.

The host looked shock when David Trezeguet gave Juventus an early lead at Craven Cottage. The opener goal for Juventus started when passing the ball around comfortably inside the surprisingly quiet Craven Cottage and they took the lead within two minutes.

But Bobby Zamora's strike gave the hosts hope and were given a lifeline in the shape of a wonderful Bobby Zamora goal. At which point, Konchesky crosses from the left, Cannavaro falls to the floor and Zamora chests the ball down unopposed and scores from six yards.

That Juventus lead inside three minutes failed is largely owing to the controversial decision of referee Bjorn Kuipers to send off Cannavaro.

Imaginable, the 10-men of Juventus were rafferty and only seconds Zamora's clever flick into the penalty area released Davies, who sent over a low cross to the far post for Gera to turn the ball home from close range.

A backheel from Gera released Damien Duff and when Diego's hand cut out the resulting cross in the box. A good penalty, the keeper wouldn't have stopped it even if he hadn't gone the wrong way. It's all level now, and Fulham have 40 minutes against 10 men to get the winner.

Make an attacking change conducted by Roy Hodgson’s as his team went for the win, bringing on Clint Dempsey in place of Stephen Kelly.

Instantly, the American made a huge impact just outside the penalty area. He carries the ball a few paces to his left and then lifts it over the keeper and looping in at the far post from 20 yards. That is brilliant goal on the night.

Final result Fulham defeated Juventus 4-1 to advance to the quarterfinals of soccer’s Europa League.

Team Line-ups:

Fulham: Schwarzer; Konchesky, Baird, Hughes, Hangeland, Kelly (Dempsey 71); Etuhu, Duff, Davies, Gera (Riise 85); Zamora

Juventus: Chimenti; Cannavaro, Grosso (Del Piero 85), Zebina; Camoranesi (De Ceglie 52), Salihamidzic, Sissoko, Diego, Melo, Candreva (Grygera 28); Trezeguet

Three first-half goals Juventus by Legrottaglie, Zebina, Trezeguet

JUVENTUS 3
- Legrottaglie 8,
- Zebina 25,
- Trezeguet 45

FULHAM 1
- Etuhu 36

**Three first-half goals saw Juventus take command of their Europa League last 16 first leg match at the Stadio Olimpico in Turin with Fulham.

Juventus grabbed a ninth minute lead. Diego’s right wing corner was a good one, and Nicola Legrottaglie met it with a bullet header, Cannavaro and Legrottaglie both attacked it powerfully, with the latter meeting it and sending a downward header into the net from 12 yards.

Juventus were starting to look more confident and they duly doubled their lead on 25 minutes. Candreva took two defenders with him as he walzted forwar from the middle to the right, then rolled the ball back to Zebina. He beat Davies and shrugged off Etuhu before drilling an excellent right-foot shot from 25 yards.

Simon Davies curled in a freekick from the left that was headed down to Euthu on the edge of the area. His snapshot was going wide until it took a hefty deflection off Legrottaglie - that wrong-footed Manninger and the ball spun into the net, 2-1 position.

But, amazingly, Juventus managed to extend their lead on the stroke of half-time. From the resulting corner David Trezeguet hit the post with his first effort, but the rebound fell kindly for the Frenchman and he steered a shot across Schwarzer at the second attempt.

Team Lineups :

Juventus : Alex Manninger, Fabio Cannavaro, Fabio Grosso, Jonathan Zebina, Nicola Legrottaglie, Hasan Salihamidzic (Mauro German Camoranesi, 46), Claudio Marchisio, Christian Poulsen (Mohamed Sissoko, 76), Antonio Candreva, Ribas da Cunha Diego, David Trezeguet (Vincenzo Iaquinta, 62)

Fulham : Mark Schwarzer, Paul Konchesky, Brede Hangeland, Chris Baird, Aaron Hughes, Zoltan Gera, Damien Duff, Dickson Etuhu, Jonathan Greening, Simon Davies (Clint Dempsey, 61), Bobby Zamora

Brilliant Zamora's at last minute goals, sending a victory for Fulham

FULHAM 2
* Duff 59,
* Zamora 90

BIRMINGHAM CITY 1
* Baird (og) 3

**Fulham put together some pretty decent approach work. When we weren’t dropping long balls into the inside right channel – clearly a pre-determined plan, and quite a succesful one – we were switching play quite well, and Duff, Baird, Shorey and Davies all saw plenty of the ball in wide areas. Shots were rarer, though, Birmingham’s famed organisation limiting us to opportunist efforts that didn’t unduly worry Joe Hart.

Just like against the Ukrainians, a Fulham player got on the scoresheet in the third minute. Unfortunately for Chris Baird, his bullet header into the top corner from a Lee Bowyer cross was past a bemused Mark Schwarzer, 1-0 scored to Birmingham.

Midfielder Damien Duff scored a beautifully crafted 1-1 equaliser, just like they did in the first half and they were ultimately rewarded for their play when a scintillating move featuring Damien Duff.

Bobby Zamora impresses in front of watching Capello, with three efforts in the next 15 minutes which should have had the Craven Cottage side on level terms with their mid table rivals. Zamora completed his performance by curling brilliant past Hart at last minute. That is the goal of 15 seasons, sending a victory for Fulham his highest tally in the top flight.

The three points meaning Fulham leapfrogged Birmingham into ninth place in the league.

Team :

Fulham: Mark Schwarzer, Chris Baird, Aaron Hughes, Brede Hangeland, Nicky Shorey, Simon Davies (Bjorn Helge Riise 83), Danny Murphy (C), Dickson Etuhu, Damien Duff, Zoltan Gera, Bobby Zamora. Unused subs: Pascal Zuberbuhler, Stephen Kelly, Stefano Okaka, Chris Smalling, Jonathan Greening, David Elm.

Birmingham: Joe Hart, Stephen Carr (C), Roger Johnson, Scott Dann, Liam Ridgewell, Seb Larsson (Craig Gardner 68), Barry Ferguson (Michel 90), Lee Bowyer, Keith Fahey, James McFadden, Cameron Jerome (Kevin Phillips 77). Unused subs: Maik Taylor, Stuart Parnaby, Chucho, Gregory Vignal.

Fulham 4-0 Notts County : Zamora's scored again

FULHAM 4
- Davies 22,
- Zamora 41,
- Duff 73,
- Okaka 79

NOTTS COUNTY 0

**Roy Hodgson's side raced into a two-goal lead before half-time at Craven Cottage thanks to strikes from Simon Davies and Bobby Zamora.

Damien Duff and Stefano Okaka added further goals in the closing stages of the fifth round tie to keep Fulham on course for a first FA Cup final appearance since 1975 when they lost to West Ham.

With a Europa League clash against Shakhtar Donetsk looming on Thursday, Hodgson could have opted to rest his key players, but the Cottagers boss fielded a strong line-up.

For Notts County, the lowest ranked team left in the competition, the chance to take on Premier League opposition was a welcome distraction from another tumultuous week which ended with the cash-strapped club being sold for one pound to Ray Trew and Sven-Goran Eriksson resigning as director of football.

However, it quickly became clear that Fulham weren't going to allow their unheralded visitors time to get comfortable.

Zamora fired wide after latching onto Chris Baird's pass, then County keeper Kasper Schmeichel, son of former Manchester United star Peter Schmeichel, made a fine stop to keep out David Elm's effort.

County threatened briefly when Ben Davies forced Mark Schwarzer to tip over the crossbar and, from the resulting corner, Lee Hughes should have done better than shoot straight at the Australian goalkeeper.

Any thoughts that County would spring a surprise were dashed in the 22nd minute when Danny Murphy chipped a pass to Davies on the edge of the area.

Wales midfielder Davies had his back to goal but turned quickly and drove his shot past Schmeichel's far corner for his first goal of the season.

Craig Westcarr tested Schwarzer moments later when he met Hughes's flick with a goalbound shot.

But former West Ham forward Zamora finished off a move that emphasised Fulham's extra quality as he collected Elm's backheel and lashed past Schmeichel in the 41st minute.

County threw caution to the wind after half-time in a bid to get back in the match and Davies flashed two efforts wide in quick succession.

With the visitors leaving more spaces at the back, Hodgson's side picked them off in the closing stages.

Republic of Ireland winger Duff turned in Zamora's cross in the 74th minute before Okaka, on loan from Roma, drove a powerful shot past Schmeichel three minutes after coming off the bench.

Teams :

FULHAM: Schwarzer, Baird, Hangeland, Hughes, Shorey, Duff(Riise 75), Murphy (Greening 69), Elm, Etuhu, Davies, Zamora(Okaka 75).

NOTTS COUNTY: Schmeichel, Thompson, Edwards, Hunt, Jackson, Westcarr (Hawley 84), Bishop, Ravenhill, Clapham (Rodgers 61), Davies, Hughes (Hamshaw 84).

Zamora's goal becomes inspiration

Fulham 3
- Murphy 23,
- Elm 31,
- Zamora 54

Burnley 0

**Fulham produced a fine performance to deservedly take all three points on Tuesday evening against Burnley. It was certainly a game pleasing on the eye as both Fulham and Burnley started with the intention of keeping the ball on the floor.

The White soon seized control of proceedings and David Elm set up Danny Murphy for the opener. Elm turned from provider to scorer soon after when he prodded home a rebound from Bobby Zamora’s shot. The scoring was rounded off in the second-half when Bobby Zamora placed a low free-kick past Brian Jensen.

Simon Davies and Dickson Etuhu made their return to the Fulham starting eleven, somewhat relieving the Whites of their recent injury troubles. Whilst up front Bobby Zamora was also back on the team sheet, having recovered from short bout of illness.

Following a slow start to the encounter, the Whites were first to work a dangerous opportunity when Simon Davies, who was lurking at the back post, almost got his foot to a wide shot from Damien Duff.

The game sparked into life soon after that opportunity with both sides playing neat, one-touch football much to the appreciation of the Craven Cottage crowd. One such passage of play produced a fine opening for Duff down the Fulham right flank, unfortunately when the ball was cut back to the edge of the area, there were no Fulham players on hand to apply the finish.

Despite chances being at a premium during the first 20 minutes, there were no groans of frustration from the crowd who were witnessing a delightful show of passing football. Fulham upped the tempo on 21 minutes when Duff fed a short pass to David Elm, whose attempted curling effort into the bottom corner was held by Jensen.

Fulham took the lead in the 22nd minute through Danny Murphy . The pressure had been building up from Roy Hodgson’s side and the breakthrough came from a well-worked opportunity. David Elm was the creator as he nodded Nicky Shorey’s diagonal pass into the path of Murphy, who had made a darting run into the area to finish well past Jensen.

Fulham continued to apply the pressure and a fine save from Jensen helped stave off a Fulham second. The Whites maintained their momentum and the second goal of the evening came soon enough when David Elm opened his account. Bobby Zamora made good ground down the right flank and his left-footed shot could only palmed out by Jensen but only to the feet of Elm who delicately lifted the ball over the grounded keeper and into the net.

There was a timely reminder of the danger that Burnley posed on 41 minutes when Tyrone Mears’ free kick clipped the outside of Mark Schwarzer’s post.

The Whites didn’t have to wait long for the first chance of the second-half to present itself. Bobby Zamora blocked a clearance and forced an impressive low save from Jensen, winning Fulham a corner in the process.

There was a glimmer of danger on 50 minutes when a surging run from Andre Bikey took him clear of his midfielder markers but an uncompromising clearance from Aaron Hughes stopped the big midfielder in his tracks.

Fulham won a free right on the edge of the area when Bobby Zamora was hauled to the ground on 52 minutes by David Edgar. Zamora stepped up to coolly side foot the free kick past the despairing grasp of Jensen to make it three-nil.

Simon Davies was replaced by Jonathan Greening on 61 minutes after making a good return from his spell on the sidelines.

With the game drifting away from them Burnley stuck to their task and kept Fulham honest – although the Whites were certainly in no mood to give Brian Laws’ side an easy way back into the game.

Fulham’s attack was refreshed on 70 minutes with the introduction of Stefano Okaka for Bobby Zamora. The Whites’ final change of the evening saw Bjorn Helge Riise come on for Duff on 77 minutes – by which time the game was clearly in the process of winding down.

Only another good stop from Jensen prevented Fulham from netting their fourth of the night when Stefano Okaka’s shot was tipped wide after the Italian Under-21 international was played in on goal by Riise. And it proved to be the last moment of note in the match as Fulham closed out the game well in control.

Teams :

Fulham: Schwarzer,Hangeland, 06 Baird, Shorey, Hughes, Murphy, Duff (Riise 77), Etuhu, Davies (Greening 62), Zamora (Okaka Chuka 71), Elm

Burnley: Jensen, Carlisle, Mears, Edgar, Cort (Eagles 32), Bikey, Fox, McDonald, Elliott (Cork 56), Fletcher, Nugent (Paterson 76)

Source : http://www.fulhamfc.com

The Irishman first goal beat Portsmouth

Fulham were playing like a team that had lost their last five games. Low on confidence, they were guilty of giving the ball away cheaply though they did create the best chance of the game just after the half hour.

Premier League basement boys Pompey started the better of the two teams and carved out an early chance, when Frederic Piquionne forced a good save out of Cottagers goalkeeper Mark Schwarzer.

The huddle looked like it had the desired effect as the visitors had the first shot in anger after four minutes, as Kevin Prince Boateng's half-volley stung Mark Schwarzer's palms at the near post. Five minutes later Jamie O’Hara slid a neat ball through the middle which Frederic Piquionne ran on to but, completely unmarked, his shot was saved by Schwarzer.

Jonathan Greening’s second-half strike gave Fulham victory over struggling Portsmouth at Craven Cottage. The Irishman advanced and fizzed over a low cross for Greening to slide in his first goal for the club to end a run of seven league games without a win.

The victory brought Fulham moved up one position to rank 10th in the Premier League standings with number 30 results from 24 matches. In contrast to Pompey, these results take cocktail Avram Grant the team was becoming immersed as caretaker.

Teams:

Fulham: Mark Schwarzer; Brede Hangeland, Aaron Hughes, Nicky Shorey, Stephen Kelly (Kagisho Evidence Dikgaco '55), Chris Baird, Danny Murphy, Jonathan Greening, Damien Duff, Stefano Okaka Chūka (Erik Nevland '70), Bobby Zamora (David Elm '78).

Portsmouth: David James; Marc Wilson, Tal Ben-Haim, Angelos Basinas (Abeyie Quincy Owusu-'82), Nadir Belhadj, Steve Finnan, Kevin-Prince Boateng, Jamie O'Hara, Hassan Yebda, Aruna Dindane, Frederic Piquionne (Danny Webber '62).