Fulham's 14-game European odyssey is over after Hertha Berlin produced a sterling backs-to-the-wall performance to claim a goalless draw at Loftus Road tonight.
The Cottagers began their Intertoto Cup campaign just six days after the World Cup final - but after victory in that competition and three rounds of UEFA Cup action, they bowed out 2-1 on aggregate against the Germans.
Fulham claimed the scalps of Croatian sides Hajduk Split and Dinamo Zagreb but were made to pay tonight for missed chances and Facunda Sava's own-goal in the first leg.
The woodwork took a battering in a thrill-a-minute first half, with Alain Goma clipping the bar with a glancing header and Boa Morte producing a candidate for miss of the season when he hit the outside of the post from six yards.
Hertha goalkeeper Gabor Kiraly also almost threw Sean Davis' shot into the back of his net - but it was not all Fulham as Berlin's Brazilian ace Marcelinho hit the post with a corner-kick.
There was far less action in the second half as Fulham and their capacity crowd, despite the 5pm kick-off for German television, became increasingly frantic.
Chances were few and far between despite Fulham piling forwards at every opportunity and in the end, they were made to pay for Boa Morte's glaring miss.
Steve Marlet, at the centre of controversy over the payment of his stg£1.5million transfer fee from Lyon, was Fulham's star man in the first half but faded badly after the interval.
Fulham started like a steam train and almost scored within 60 seconds of kick-off. Davis' first effort was blocked but he seized on the loose ball and fired goalwards again. Kiraly misjudged his shot and almost palmed the ball into his own net.
Goma went even closer after five minutes, flicking a header from Steed Malbranque's left-wing corner against the top of Germans' crossbar.
At the other end, Taylor was out quickly to intercept Luizao Goulart's through-ball which was destined for Marcelinho.
Boa Morte then displayed the best and worst qualities of his game inside a minute. First, he used his searing pace to race onto Marlet's angled header and unleash a thumping drive which hit Kiraly and rebounded to safety.
But when Marlet raced clear and pulled a cross back from the byline - Boa Morte, just six yards out, incredibly side-footed against the outside of the near post.
Kiraly made a wonder-save from Marlet's 14-yard volley in the 42nd minute, signalling a hectic finale to the first period.
Play then swung to the other end and Marcelinho almost scored twice. His dazzling run and shot was met by a flying Taylor save - and from the resulting corner, he delivered a vicious flag-kick which hit the near post.
With Fulham needing to score to avoid the end of their European adventure, Pierre Wome burst into the penalty box.
He reached the byline and delivered a fine square ball - but Kiraly anticipated Wome's intention and cut out the danger.
Minutes later a towering leap by Marlet left Kiraly flat out on his back with 13 minutes left. It was a hard but fair challenge by the French international.
Boa Morte had another chance late on but shot from an acute angle and Kiraly parried.
Michael Hartmann hit the outside of the post for Hertha in injury-time but the Germans did not have to score to secure their passage into the fourth round.