Roma make Fulham pay

EUROPA LEAGUE: Roma 2 Fulham 1:ROMA CAME from behind to beat nine-man Fulham at the Stadio Olimpico in Europa League Group E last night.

Diomansy Kamara put Fulham ahead in the 19th minute from the penalty spot after being brought down by Marco Andreolli.

Fulham shot themselves in the foot early in the second half, though, when substitute Erik Nevland was shown a straight red card for a tackle on Daniele De Rossi three minutes after coming on .

Roma took advantage with John Arne Riise equalising in the 68th minute before Stefano Okaka headed in the winner with 14 minutes remaining.

Substitute Chris Baird had a good chance to make it 2-2 but his right-footed strike on target was cleared by Philippe Mexes.

Fulham defender Paul Konchesky was handed his marching orders late in the game after a foul on substitute Rodrigo Taddei.

The result marked Fulham’s first defeat in the competition and left them third in the group, two points behind Roma with two games remaining.

ROMA:Doni (Bertagnoli 46), Cassetti, Mexes, Andreolli, Riise, Cicinho (Taddei 46), Pizarro, De Rossi, Guberti (Menez 66),Okaka Chuka, Julio Baptista. Subs not used: Motta, Perrotta, Cerci, Brighi. Booked: Andreolli, Okaka Chuka, De Rossi.

FULHAM:Schwarzer, Pantsil, Hughes, Hangeland, Konchesky, Riise (Zamora 70), Etuhu (Baird 77), Greening, Gera, Kamara (Nevland 46), Dempsey. Subs not used: Stockdale, Smalling, Davies, Anderson. Sent Off: Nevland (49), Konchesky (90). Booked: Greening, Hangeland, Baird.

Referee:Kevin Blom (Holland).