Fulham closer to final goal

Bologna ... 2 Fulham ... 2 A battling Fulham twice rallied to take a highly creditable draw away from Bologna last night in the first leg of their InterToto Cup final and Jean Tigana's team now must be favourites to progress to the UEFA Cup.

Bologna scored through two Giuseppe Signori penalties in the 56th and 75th minute, but one of Fulham's summer signing, the Japanese international midfielder Junichi Inamoto, scored their first equaliser in the 62nd minute, two minutes after taking to the field.

Recalling the wonder goal he scored in the World Cup opener against Belgium, Inamoto won the ball in midfield before dribbling past two defenders and scoring to Gianluca Pagliuca's right.

Sylvain Legwinski earned Tigana's side a draw five minutes from the end as Bologna's defence became increasingly tired and casual.

The Frenchman's late goal could prove critical to the outcome of this final - one of three in the InterToto tournament - which will be resolved in the second leg at Craven Cottage on August 27th.

Fulham's dream of qualifying for European competiton proper for the first time in their history was put to the test here against a Serie A side that include Signori, the former Lazio legend, and the one-time Italy goalkeeper Pagliuca.

It was a marked step-up from the early stages of the competition, in which Fulham rather stutteringly overcame opposition like Finland's FC Haka and Egaleo of Greece.

But Tigana's side coped admirably in the first half, confidently swapping passes in midfield and occasionally asking the home side, who were playing in front of one of the biggest crowds of the tournament so far, some poignant questions in attack.

Tigana left striker Louis Saha on the bench and the inclusion of the striker Barry Hayles was the key to the manager's game plan. He no doubt figured that Hayles, who insists he wants to stay at Fulham despite a £2 million offer from West Bromwich, would provide much-needed urgency in attack considering that it was his future, and not just Fulham's, at stake in this impressive stadium.

Certainly Hayles looked lively, and Fulham could so easily have taken the lead when his strike partner Steve Marlet rounded off a powerful run with a 20-yard shot that sailed narrowly over in the 30th minute.

But Bologna were not without menace at the other end, where Signori fired a wonderful chance straight at Edwin van der Sar and Giuseppe Colucci sent an even better opportunity into the stands when clean through.

FULHAM (4-4-2): Van der Sar; Ouaddou, Melville, Goma, Brevett; Malbranque, Davis, Legwinksi, Boa Morte; Hayles, Marlet.

BOLOGNA (3-5-2): Pagliuca; Zaccardo, Castellini, Falcone; Nervo, Castellini, Colucci, Goretti, Smit; Cruz, Signori.

Referee: E Gonzalez (Spain).

Guardian Service