Miracle at Craven Cottage

Fulham,in the fourth tier of English football just 13 years ago,completed their fairytale run to the Europa League final with a 2-1 win over Hamburg SV at Craven Cottage on Thursday....

Fulham,in the fourth tier of English football just 13 years ago,completed their fairytale run to the Europa League final with a 2-1 win over Hamburg SV at Craven Cottage on Thursday.

Well-taken late goals in the semi-final second leg from Simon Davies and Zoltan Gera on 69 and 76 minutes sealed a 2-1 aggregate win and a place in the May 12 final in Hamburg against Atletico Madrid.

Earlier,Croatian striker Mladen Petric stunned the home side with a vicious 30-metre free kick after 22 minutes that Fulham keeper Mark Schwarzer could only watch as it sailed into his net.

It just keeps getting better doesnt it, captain Danny Murphy told ITV. It would have been easy to think this was the end of the journey but I thought the spirit we showed in the second half was tremendous.

Look what it means to everyone its amazing, added Murphy as the London clubs fans went wild with delight. We have come a long way.

Match-winner Gera said: That was the most important goal Ive ever scored so Im very happy.

Fulham also beat Bundesliga champions VfL Wolfsburg,Italian giants Juventus and 2009 UEFA Cup winners Shakhtar Donetsk earlier in the competition. Manager Roy Hodgson,who joined Fulham when they were fighting a Premier League relegation battle in December 2007,paid tribute to chairman Mohamed Al Fayed. The time at Fulham has been quite magical for me, the much-travelled manager said. From the moment I came in I established an immediate rapport with the chairman who has been very good during my time here.

Story continues below this ad

The former Inter Milan and Switzerland manager also thanked the London clubs players and supporters. Tonight is a reward for the fans who have supported us so well over the last two years and its certainly for all those really faithful Fulham fans who have seen some bad times through the years, said Hodgson.

I know the players are never going to let me down. Football is an emotional game so in a semi-final they could be excused for losing their heads or discipline but they didnt do it tonight.

Extra-time shock for Reds

reuters

liverpool,april 30

DIEGO Forlans extra-time effort sent Atletico Madrid into the Europa League final on away goals at the expense of Liverpool after a 2-2 aggregate draw on Thursday. Liverpool,trailing 1-0 from the first leg,drew level just before the end of the first half through Italian midfielder Alberto Aquilanis low curling shot from inside the box. A quiet second half set up extra time and the hosts took a 2-0 lead on the night through Yossi Benayouns angled strike only for Forlan to smash home the ball a few minutes later.

The Spanish side,who face Sevilla in the Kings Cup next month,also reached the European Cup final in 1974.

Story continues below this ad

We have done really well, Atletico coach Quique Sanchez Flores said. Today we got stronger as the match went on and over the two legs I think we deserved to go through. Ive not known too many better moments.

For Rafa Benitezs Liverpool,Europa League silverware represented a last chance to salvage a dismal season which featured an early Champions League exit and a failed Premier League title challenge.

Benitez said: We were on top for a long time. We lost the game with a late goal but it was a good game. It was a pity the way they scored.