Source: Daily_Mail
Fulham 2 Shakhtar Donetsk 1: Bobby Zamora fires a dazzler to stun holders
Bobby Zamora gave Fulham the advantage in their last-32 tie with a sensational 25-yard strike at Craven Cottage.[LNB] His first-time shot on the turn with his right foot - not usually his weapon of choice - after a pass from Zoltan Gera fired Fulham into the lead from after 63 minutes. [LNB] Stunner: Bobby Zamora celebrates after his long-range effort[LNB] [LNB]Fulham manager Roy Hodgson said: 'It was a wonder goal, a strike of real quality. He's a great two-footed player and can score goals with both feet.[LNB]'We're talking about a striker who has scored 14 goals this season in his 31 games. I hope he can get over the 20-goal barrier.'[LNB]Fulham had taken the lead after just 130 seconds when Danny Murphy threaded a ball to Zamora, who set Gera free in the left channel. Shakhtar goalkeeper Andriy Pyatov will not have enjoyed the replay as he was beaten easily at his near post by Gera's left-foot finish.[LNB]But Shakhtar soon began to show the form that led to them winning the UEFA Cup last season as their five-strong Brazilian spearhead embarked on an exhibition of intricate attacking football. It soon became apparent why 19-year-old Douglas Costa, scouted by Manchester United before his £5million move from Gremio last month, started on the bench.[LNB] Netbuster: Fulham's Bobby Zamora scores against Shakhtar Donetsk[LNB]At first the visitors' play was easy on the eye without penetratingFulham's defence, but Shakhtar's dominance of possession eventuallypaid off.[LNB]Ilsinho threaded a beautifully-weighted ball through to LuizAdriano, who made a clever run to dart past Aaron Hughes and level thescore after 32 minutes. It was the first goal Fulham had conceded inFebruary but no less than Shakhtar deserved.[LNB]The Barclays Premier League side then spent the rest of the halfpinned in their penalty area as the attacking midfield trio of Ilsinho,Jadson and Willian gave Craven Cottage a taste of Brazilian magic.[LNB]Fernandinho nearly nicked a second away goal at the death, forcing afine save from Mark Schwarzer with a curling right-foot effort fromjust outside the box.[LNB]Shakhtar watched Fulham's FA Cup win over Notts County on Sunday andindulged in a spot of shopping on Monday. The team were deemed tooscruffy to enter luxury department store Harrods, owned by Fulhamchairman Mohamed Al Fayed, in their tracksuits, but there was nothingcasual about their play last night.[LNB] Level pegging: Luiz Adriano beats Mark Schwarzer to make it one apiece[LNB] [LNB]Hodgson would have been a relieved man to reach half-time on levelterms, but his side showed Shakhtar much less respect in the secondhalf.[LNB][LNB]Gera headed Damien Duff's cross over after 65 minutes with Zamoralurking, unmarked, a metre behind him. The striker, so often regardedas lacking the necessary selfish streak, looked even less impressed aminute later when he guided a header wide from a Murphy free-kick.[LNB] Off to a flyer: Zoltan Gera opens the scoring[LNB] [LNB]MATCH FACTSFulham (4-4-2): Schwarzer 6; Baird 6,Hughes 6, Hangeland 6, Kelly 5; Duff 6,Murphy 6, Etuhu 5, Davies 5; Gera 7 (Elm 89), Zamora 8.Booked: Murphy.[LNB]Shakhtar Donetsk (4-2-3-1): Pyatov 4; Srna 7, Kucher 6, Rakitskiy 6, Rat 6; Hubschman 6 (Kravchenko 78), Fernandinho 6; Ilsinho 7, Jadson 7 (Douglas Costa 75, 6), Willian 6; Luiz Adriano 7.Booked: Luiz Adriano, Srna[LNB]Man of the match: Bobby Zamora.[LNB]Referee: Serge Gumienny (Belgium).[LNB]Mircea Lucescu's side are unbeaten at home this season, so thepressure was on Fulham to put down a marker ahead of their 1500-miletrip to the Ukraine next week.[LNB]Premier League matches and their FA Cup quarter-final may be Fulham's priority, but Hodgson fielded a full-strength side in front of a packed Craven Cottage last night.[LNB]The match was, after all, something of a historic occasion, as thelast 32 of the Europa League is the furthest Fulham have gone inEuropean competition. It was a testimony to the team's progress in thetwo years since Hodgson took over.[LNB]The Fulham boss said: 'If you'd have told me two years ago that we'd be beating Shakhtar Donetsk, I'd have thought you were taking the mickey.[LNB]'I'm happy to have got a victory against such a good team. I thoughtit was an exciting Cup tie, played in the right spirit between twosides who try to pass the ball.'[LNB] European glory? Fulham concentrating on FA Cup, insists Aaron HughesFulham owner Al Fayed bans Shakhtar Donetsk players from his Harrods storeFulham v Shakhtar: As it happenedFULHAM FC
