Goalscorers Zamora (left) and Duff (right) celebrate the latter's goal
Fulham will take a narrow lead to Germany for the second leg of their Europa League quarter-final following a hard-fought victory over Wolfsburg. After a drab first half, Bobby Zamora curled in from 20 yards just before the hour to give the home side the lead. Four minutes later, Zamora turned provider for Damien Duff to smash in a superb second from 12 yards. Alexander Madlung's late headed goal changed the complexion of the tie ahead of next Thursday's return leg. Fulham's late lapse could cost them dearly, but Wolfsburg were rewarded for their persistence in the final 10 minutes and will now be confident that they can progress to the semi-finals.
The reigning German champions may not be having as successful a season as last campaign but they remain a potent foe, who came into this match having lost only one of their last 10 games. Their strength is built on the formidable attacking duo of Edin Dzeko and Grafite, who overcame injury and illness respectively to start this match, which may partly explain why they were largely anonymous throughout. The best opportunities the pair had were presented to them by the home side - in particularly an off-colour Brede Hangeland - but these they spurned. The most notable was a headed chance from Dzeko, which took the striker by surprise after Hangeland had completely missed his clearing header. Fulham, who beat Italian giants Juventus in the previous round, have a potent attacking threat of their own in the shape of Zamora and the big striker once again showed why he is so often mentioned as a potential England forward.
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606: DEBATE
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He broke the deadlock in the 59th minute, collecting an infield pass from Zoltan Gera before manoeuvring himself into a shooting position on the edge of the box and curling a superb shot past keeper Diego Benaglio. Shortly after, he held up a pass from Danny Murphy with his back to goal in the box before teeing up Duff to slam home from 12 yards. It was a burst of attacking precision that had until then been completely lacking from Fulham, who had the best chances of the first half but saw them spurned by Zamora, from a tight angle, and Clint Dempsey, who fired wide just before the break. That Fulham did not see out the game with their two-goal lead in tact is largely due to their own failings. They gifted the visitors too much possession in dangerous areas and despite the Germans squandering two chances through tame shooting from Grafite and substitute Obefami Martins their quality eventually shone through. In the 88th minute, Zvjezdan Misimovic's quickly taken corner was returned to him and his cross was headed home by Madlung to give Wolfsburg more than just hope to take with them back to Germany.
Live text and stats
Thursday, 1 April 2010
Europa League
| Home Team |
Score |
Away Team |
Time |
| Fulham |
2-1 |
Wolfsburg |
FT |
| (HT 0-0) |
|
|
|
|
|
Wolfsburg
- 01 Benaglio
- 04 Schafer
- 17 Madlung yellow card
- 19 Pekarik (Martins 74)
- 20 Riether
- 43 Barzagli
- 07 Josue
- 10 Misimovic
- 25 Gentner (Dejagah 84)
- 09 Dzeko
- 23 Grafite
Substitutes
- 12 Lenz,
- 06 Simunek,
- 16 Johnson,
- 55 Rever,
- 13 Hasebe,
- 11 Martins,
- 24 Dejagah
Ref: SkominaAtt: 22,307
- Final Result
- Full Time
- 90:00+2:00 The referee signals the end of the game.
- 90:00+0:22 Centre by Marcel Schafer, clearance by Aaron Hughes.
- 88:30 The assist for the goal came from Zvjezdan Misimovic.
- 88:30 GOAL - Alexander Madlung:Fulham 2 - 1 Wolfsburg Alexander Madlung scores a headed goal from close in. Fulham 2-1 Wolfsburg.
- 88:26 A cross is delivered by Zvjezdan Misimovic,
- 88:02 Zvjezdan Misimovic decides to take the corner short.
- 87:53 Marcel Schafer sends in a cross.
- 86:19 Zvjezdan Misimovic delivers the ball from the free kick right-footed from left wing, Simon Davies manages to make a clearance.
- 86:19 Substitution Chris Baird comes on in place of Danny Murphy.
- 86:19 Free kick awarded for a foul by Danny Murphy on Edin Dzeko.
- 84:36 The referee blows for offside against Libano Batista Grafite. Mark Schwarzer takes the free kick.
- 84:06 The ball is sent over by Ashkan Dejagah, save by Mark Schwarzer.
- 83:01 Substitution Ashkan Dejagah replaces Christian Gentner.
- 83:01 Damien Duff is caught offside. Diego Benaglio restarts play with the free kick.
- 82:26 Obafemi Martins takes a shot. Mark Schwarzer makes a save.
- 81:18 Free kick awarded for a foul by Anunciado Josue on Clinton Dempsey. Paul Konchesky crosses the ball in from the free kick,
save by Diego Benaglio.
- 80:22 Effort from deep inside the area by Libano Batista Grafite misses to the left of the goal.
- 77:43 Edin Dzeko has shot on goal from just outside the box which goes wide of the right-hand upright.
- 73:58 Zvjezdan Misimovic has an effort at goal from just outside the box which goes wide of the left-hand upright.
- 73:01 Substitution Obafemi Martins is brought on as a substitute for Peter Pekarik.
- 71:56 Peter Pekarik crosses the ball, Brede Hangeland manages to make a clearance.
- 70:58 Danny Murphy takes the direct free kick.
- 70:58 Booking Alexander Madlung is cautioned by the ref for unsporting behaviour.
- 70:52 Free kick awarded for an unfair challenge on Zoltan Gera by Alexander Madlung.
- 68:38 Centre by Damien Duff, Alexander Madlung makes a clearance.
- 67:13 Corner from right by-line taken by Zvjezdan Misimovic.
- 66:14 The assistant referee signals for offside against Zoltan Gera. Indirect free kick taken by Anunciado Josue.
- 65:24 The ball is sent over by Damien Duff, Unfair challenge on Diego Benaglio by Zoltan Gera results in a free kick. Indirect free
kick taken by Diego Benaglio.
- 63:59 The ball is sent over by Marcel Schafer.
- 62:13 Assist on the goal came from Bobby Zamora.
- 62:13 GOAL - Damien Duff:Fulham 2 - 0 Wolfsburg Damien Duff gets on the score sheet with a goal from inside the box to the bottom left corner of the goal. Fulham 2-0 Wolfsburg.
- 61:32 Zoltan Gera takes a shot.
- 60:48 Libano Batista Grafite takes a shot. Save by Mark Schwarzer.
- Correction - 58:53 Assist by Zoltan Gera.
- 58:53 Assist by Clinton Dempsey.
- 58:53 GOAL - Bobby Zamora:Fulham 1 - 0 Wolfsburg Goal scored by Bobby Zamora from just outside the box to the bottom left corner of the goal. Fulham 1-0 Wolfsburg.
- 58:16 Unfair challenge on Anunciado Josue by Zoltan Gera results in a free kick. Zvjezdan Misimovic takes the indirect free kick.
- 55:31 Centre by Libano Batista Grafite.
- 54:41 Libano Batista Grafite sends in a cross, Aaron Hughes makes a clearance.
- 53:31 Clinton Dempsey takes a shot. Peter Pekarik gets a block in.
- 52:31 Zvjezdan Misimovic produces a cross, Aaron Hughes fouled by Sascha Riether, the ref awards a free kick. Mark Schwarzer takes
the free kick.
- 52:20 Christian Gentner crosses the ball.
- 50:16 Libano Batista Grafite takes a shot. Save made by Mark Schwarzer.
- 49:40 Marcel Schafer sends in a cross, Header by Edin Dzeko from deep inside the penalty area misses to the left of the target.
- 48:49 Edin Dzeko has an effort at goal from outside the box which goes wide left of the target.
- 47:20 Andrea Barzagli fouled by Bobby Zamora, the ref awards a free kick. Diego Benaglio takes the free kick.
- 46:58 Libano Batista Grafite concedes a free kick for a foul on Danny Murphy. Indirect free kick taken by Aaron Hughes.
- 45:01 The second half begins.
- Half Time
- 45:00+0:06 The whistle is blown to end the first half.
- 44:40 Clinton Dempsey has an effort from just inside the box that misses to the left of the target.
- 43:10 Zoltan Gera fouled by Anunciado Josue, the ref awards a free kick. Damien Duff crosses the ball from the free kick left-footed
from left wing.
- 41:40 Zoltan Gera takes a shot. Alexander Madlung manages to make a clearance. Corner taken left-footed by Damien Duff from the
left by-line, Headed effort from deep inside the area by Dickson Etuhu misses to the right of the target.
- 40:58 The assistant referee signals for offside against Bobby Zamora. Indirect free kick taken by Diego Benaglio.
- 40:37 Marcel Schafer challenges Damien Duff unfairly and gives away a free kick. Simon Davies restarts play with the free kick.
- 38:55 Booking Bobby Zamora goes into the referee's book for unsporting behaviour.
- 37:01 Inswinging corner taken by Zvjezdan Misimovic from the left by-line played to the near post, Zoltan Gera manages to make a
clearance.
- 36:07 Paul Konchesky sends in a cross, Bobby Zamora has a headed effort from close in and clears the bar.
- 34:10 Free kick awarded for an unfair challenge on Libano Batista Grafite by Brede Hangeland. Free kick crossed right-footed by
Zvjezdan Misimovic from right channel, save by Mark Schwarzer. Edin Dzeko gives away a free kick for an unfair challenge on
Mark Schwarzer. Mark Schwarzer restarts play with the free kick.
- 32:26 Effort on goal by Libano Batista Grafite from just inside the area clears the bar.
- 31:13 Bobby Zamora takes a shot. Save by Diego Benaglio.
- 30:29 Clinton Dempsey takes a shot. Save by Diego Benaglio.
- 29:14 Foul by Andrea Barzagli on Bobby Zamora, free kick awarded. Free kick crossed by Simon Davies, clearance by Edin Dzeko.
- 28:51 Edin Dzeko produces a cross.
- 28:13 Unfair challenge on Libano Batista Grafite by Brede Hangeland results in a free kick. Zvjezdan Misimovic restarts play with
the free kick.
- 27:37 Danny Murphy crosses the ball.
- 26:10 Anunciado Josue takes a shot from deep inside the box clearing the bar.
- 25:33 Marcel Schafer concedes a free kick for a foul on Bobby Zamora. Danny Murphy takes the free kick.
- 23:40 Zoltan Gera concedes a free kick for a foul on Peter Pekarik. Free kick taken by Diego Benaglio.
- 21:09 Zoltan Gera takes a shot. Brilliant save by Diego Benaglio.
- 20:35 Paul Konchesky crosses the ball, Alexander Madlung makes a clearance.
- 19:36 Christian Gentner takes a shot. Save made by Mark Schwarzer.
- 16:35 Handball decision goes against Bobby Zamora. Alexander Madlung takes the free kick.
- 15:44 Unfair challenge on Libano Batista Grafite by Paul Konchesky results in a free kick. Free kick taken by Zvjezdan Misimovic.
- 11:46 The referee blows for offside. Free kick taken by Brede Hangeland.
- 11:02 Edin Dzeko is caught offside. Aaron Hughes takes the indirect free kick.
- Correction - 8:35 Free kick awarded for an unfair challenge on Edin Dzeko by Simon Davies. Marcel Schafer takes the free kick.
- 8:35 Edin Dzeko fouled by Simon Davies, the ref awards a free kick. Free kick taken by Marcel Schafer.
- 5:33 Sascha Riether concedes a free kick for a foul on Clinton Dempsey. Free kick taken by Danny Murphy.
- 2:18 Edin Dzeko produces a right-footed shot from just outside the box that misses to the right of the goal.
- 1:35 A cross is delivered by Libano Batista Grafite.
- 1:14 Sascha Riether produces a cross, Simon Davies manages to make a clearance.
- 0:48 Corner taken by Zvjezdan Misimovic from the right by-line, Aaron Hughes makes a clearance.
- 0:00 The referee gets the game started.
Live text and data provided by The Press Association.
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Europa League results
1 Apr 2010 23:59 UK
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