Bologna 2 Fulham 2
Fulham twice battled back from going behind to take a draw away from Bologna tonight in the first leg of their InterToto Cup final.
Bologna scored through two Giuseppe Signori penalties, but Japanese livewire Junichi Inamoto scored the first leveller just two minutes after taking to the field and Sylvain Legwinski earned Jean Tigana's team a draw five minutes from the end.
Both teams drew a blank in a scrappy first half which home side Bologna, who had beaten Teplice and BATE Borisov in their earlier rounds, edged.
Tigana left striker Louis Saha on the bench, preferring a front two of Barry Hayles and Luis Boa Morte, but neither could make an impression on a well-organised Bologna back line and Giuseppe Pagliuca was hardly tested in goal.
In attack for Bologna, former Italy striker Signori was posing problems for Andy Melville and Alain Goma.
And Fulham went behind in the 56th minute when Signori tucked away a penalty to the left of Edwin van der Saar, but it was a short-lived lead.
Seeking more creativity, Tigana brought on Inamoto and he quickly proved his World Cup exploits for Japan were no fluke.
The attacking midfielder, who replaced Steed Malbranque in the 60th minute, scored the leveller just two minutes after going onto the field. It was a stunning way to make an impact, but Bologna regained their lead with 15 minutes left to play.
Captain Signori, one of Serie A's all-time record scorers, fired another spot-kick to the right of giant Dutchman van der Saar.
Yet Fulham, who ousted Haka, Aegaleo and Sochaux in previous rounds, were not to be beaten and Legwinski struck the ball home after 85 minutes when substitute Saha failed to apply a decisive touch.
Their never-say-die attitude now makes Fulham slight favourites to reach the UEFA Cup first round when they face the Italians at Loftus Road on August 27.