Chelsea suffered a shock exit from the UEFA Cup for the third season in succession when they lost 4-2 to Viking Stavanger of Norway tonight, going out 5-4 on aggregate.
Erik Nevland was the Norwegian side's hero, grabbing the decisive goal, his second of the night, three minutes from time to settle a pulsating first-round contest.
John Terry looked to have saved Chelsea when he put them ahead on away goals by making the score 3-2 after 62 minutes.
But Nevland's late effort made it another miserable night for the London side.
A controversial penalty rescued Fulham's UEFA Cup hopes as they earned a 2-2 draw with Croatia's Hajduk Split to go through 3-2 on aggregate.
Trailing 2-1 on the night and facing an exit on away goals Fulham were gifted a lifeline when striker Steve Marlet was adjudged to have been fouled in the area by Hajduk's Hrvoje Vejic in the 42nd minute.
Malbranque stepped up to beat goalkeeper Stipe Pletikosa and haul Fulham level for the second time on the night.
Hajduk had relied on some good fortune in taking a sixth minute lead, as a 25-metre free kick from Vlatko Dolonga took a huge deflection off Sean Davis before finding its way past Fulham goalkeeper Edwin van der Sar.
Malbranque was behind Fulham's first equaliser after 20 minutes.His pass to Argentine Facundo Sava was only half cleared by Hrvoje Vukovic and Frenchman Marlet was left unmarked to drill past Pletikosa.
Vejic then exploited a gaping hole in Fulham's defence and rose unchallenged to head home a corner kick five minutes before half-time.
That blow gave Hajduk the advantage they were looking for, but, much to their disgust, their celebrations were cut short by the penalty award that proved their undoing.