UEFA EUROPA LEAGUE - Fulham 4 Juventus 1 (Fulham win 5-4 on agg): THERE CANNOT have been a greater day in the history of Fulham. This triumph, after being 4-1 down on aggregate, will stand as a monument to Roy Hodgson's profound work at the club. The manager will shy away from such a suggestion, preferring to consider the days to come, particularly those in the quarter-finals of the Europa League.
Juventus, aristocrats of Serie A and twice winners of the European Cup, have fallen at Craven Cottage. Decisions such as the red card for Fabio Cannavaro when the score on the night was 1-1 will rankle. Another dismissal in stoppage time, when Jonathan Zebina kicked Damien Duff on the back of the leg, was of no consequence.
Juventus were conquered by a goal of almost unfeasible delicacy from the substitute Clint Dempsey. After 82 minutes he cut in from an angle on the right and floated the ball into the far corner of the net.
It could not have been anticipated Fulham would cut loose but a goal for Juventus in the second minute, when David Trezeguet slotted home, compelled Hodgson’s men to be bold. Their centre-forward set the example.
Bobby Zamora, overwhelmed his marker Cannavaro to equalise before having a part in the move that brought a red card for the defender.
Fulham could scarcely hope for a better manager. In the Uefa Cup, this tournament’s predecessor, it took a penalty shoot-out with Schalke 04 to deny his Inter side in the 1997 final. He has galvanised his current players and there are no grounds to scoff at the team’s hopes in the Europa League.
Cannavaro was outmuscled in the 12th minute as Paul Konchesky crossed and, with the defender on the ground, Zamora controlled the ball on his chest before lashing a drive past Antonio Chimenti.
Juventus were never allowed a quiet moment in which to regain composure. After 27 minutes Zamora fed Zoltan Gera and the midfielder went down as Cannavaro challenged. The left-back, Fabio Grosso, seemed well-placed to cover but Kuipers dismissed Cannavaro. Fulham displayed their professionalism by making the most of their advantage.
A flick from Zamora found Simon Davies and his cut-back was converted by Gera six minutes from half-time. Fulham kept the opposition under stress and levelled the aggregate score in the 48th minute, although it seemed harsh a penalty should be awarded when, at close range, Duff’s cross came off the arm of Diego. Gera sent Chimenti the wrong way from the spot.
Fulham had grown irresistible on an extraordinary night. Juventus will vehemently reject the calculation but Hodgson’s men had been convinced luck had gone against them in the tournament, despite their progress. The fates swung behind them in the shape of a sympathetic official but there was far more than that to their win. Cannavaro, for instance, was in distress before he was sent packing.
Juventus, furthermore, would not have assumed being cut to 10 men would be fatal. Fearful Fulham fans must have been muttering about the dark Italian art of draining the life out of a game. That knack has not been passed down to this generation in Turin.
It could not have been anticipated since Hodgson’s men had scored only four goals once this season. A 4-0 drubbing of Notts County could never have been interpreted as a harbinger of glory in an tie with renowned Juventus.
Guardian Service
FULHAM: Schwarzer, Kelly (Dempsey 70), Hughes, Hangeland, Konchesky, Duff, Baird, Etuhu, Davies, Gera (Riise 84), Zamora. Subs not used: Zuberbuhler Nevland Smalling Dikgacoi Marsh-Brown. Booked: Konchesky.
JUVENTUS: Chimenti, Salihamidzic, Zebina, Cannavaro, Grosso (Del Piero 84), Camoranesi (De Ceglie 51), Felipe Melo, Sissoko, Diego, Candreva (Grygera 27). Subs not used: Pinsoglio, Iaquinta, Poulsen, Marrone. Booked: Camoranesi, Felipe Melo, Diego. Sent off: Zebina, Cannavaro.
Referee: Bjorn Kuipers (Oldenzaal)
Zamora 9, Gera 39, 49 pen, Dempsey 82 / Trezeguet 2
Attend: 23,458
Fulham win 5-4 on agg