Source: Team_Talk
AJ double downs Odense
Andrew Johnson's brace helped Fulham end an eight-game winless run with a 2-0 win over Odense in the Europa League on Thursday.[LNB] The 30-year-old broke the deadlock with a first-half strike that snuck under former Everton goalkeeper Stefan Wessels, before scoring with a neat curling effort with two minutes remaining.[LNB]Odense had started the Group K encounter strongly and Djiby Fall twice went close to breaking the deadlock in the opening 20 minutes.[LNB]Mark Schwarzer did well to save the first effort and was called into action on a number of occasions during the evening's play at the Odense Stadion.[LNB]The hosts had only lost one of their previous 15 home games in European competition, but the west Londoners remained resolute to secure victory.[LNB]Heading into the Group K encounter, Johnson was named as lone striker in a 4-4-1-1 formation and was one of six changes made to the side that started Saturday's 0-0 draw with West Brom.[LNB]Fulham's Danish opponents named four players with Premier League experience in their starting XI, including former Manchester United and Aston Villa midfielder Eric Djemba-Djemba.[LNB]Odense came into this evening's match on a poor run of form having lost three successive matches, including a 4-1 home defeat to FC Midtjylland on Sunday.[LNB]However, Henrik Clausen's side have impressed in Europe and had their first shot within a minute when Bashkim Kadrii skewed a volley wide.[LNB]While Odense goalkeeper Wessels was forced to save goalbound efforts from Pajtim Kasami and Clint Dempsey within the opening 10 minutes, the home side dominated the early exchanges.[LNB]Djemba-Djemba fired a 20-yard drive just wide and only a superb one-handed Schwarzer save prevented Fall breaking the deadlock in the 12th minute.[LNB]The latter again came agonisingly close to scoring eight minutes later but the Senegal international's acrobatic volley from Andreas Johansson's cross went just wide.[LNB]Fulham were being pinned back by their hosts but looked dangerous on the counter-attack, going close in the 27th minute.[LNB]After neat play between Philippe Senderos and Johnson, the ball fell kindly to Dempsey in the six-yard box and only Tore Reginiussen's last-gasp block prevented a certain-looking goal.[LNB]The Cottagers were beginning to find their feet as the first half wore on and, after Dempsey blazed over, Wessels had to thwart Brede Hangeland from a corner.[LNB]The visitors were getting ever closer and a powerful Dempsey header was sneaking in before Djemba-Djemba's goalline clearance.[LNB]Fulham's pressure eventually paid dividends in the 36th minute when Johnson latched onto a ball from Dempsey and struck a shot that snuck under Wessels.[LNB]Fall and Kadrii both blazed wide attempts to equalise wide shortly after, allowing the visitors to go in boasting a half-time lead.[LNB]Odense looked rejuvenated after the break and, aside from a Kasami drive, dominated the first 10 minutes.[LNB]Djemba-Djemba thrashed over and Johansson saw a shot flash just wide after Schwarzer saved well from Kadrii.[LNB]Damien Duff managed to wriggle free and force Wessels to save at the other end, before the home side returned to the attack.[LNB]Senderos was booked for a 63rd-minute foul on Fall as the home side threatened to break, before the striker was replaced four minutes later by Peter Utaka - brother of former Portsmouth forward John - in a bid to force an equaliser.[LNB]Shortly after the change, Kalilou Traore received a yellow card for a two-footed challenge on Matthew Briggs that saw the left-back receive treatment.[LNB]The youngster recovered from the injury and had to defend immediately as Odense pressed for an equaliser.[LNB]Schwarzer was forced into action to stop substitute Utaka before Johnson wrapped up victory with his second of the evening.[LNB]The striker showed a good touch to control a long ball before curling the ball past Wessels in the 88th minute.[LNB]Odense's evening got even worse moments later when Traore was sent off for a second booking.[LNB]
