Fulham v Basle live!

01 October 2009 19:27
// A bit of a hack but it works// The article snippet is wrapped onto a second line, even when #article-sub is emptyif( $("div#article-sub").children().length == 0 ) {$("div#article-sub").remove();} 90 It's all over and Fulham have held on for a nervy 1-0 victory over Basle in their Europa League clash at Craven Cottage, thanks to Murphy's second-half strike. Roy Hodgson's side have now taken four points from their opening two matches in Group E but must count themselves fortunate after the Swiss side spurned a host of decent chances.[LNB]90 Chipperfield has a last-gasp effort for Basle, but his bouncing low drive from the edge of the box is saved by fellow Australian Schwarzer.[LNB]90 It's all Basle right now, as you might expect. Da Silva whips a fierce cross into the box but a commanding Schwarzer takes the catch.[LNB]90 There will be three additional minutes to play before the final whistle.[LNB]89 Frei takes the flag kick but once again Fulham defend well and clear the ball to safety.[LNB]88 Basle continue to press forward and win a corner down the left wing. What can they produce this time with the clock ticking down?[LNB]87 Da Silva bends a beautifully curled free kick over the wall but it just doesn't do enough to find the target and goes agonisingly wide, although Schwarzer did look beaten.[LNB]87 Just before the free kick can be taken, Basle make their final substitution with Marcos Gelabert coming off to be replaced by Scott Chipperfield.[LNB]86 Chris Baird is booked after bringing down Streller around 30 yards from goal - more importantly Basle have a dangerous free kick.[LNB]85 If Fulham do hold on for the victory then Basle can only blame themselves. They keep pushing forward and the hosts must avoid any more defensive lapses.[LNB]84 Well you can't say Basle haven't had any chances to at least take a point from this encounter but they've spurned them all.[LNB]83 Stocker gets down the left and tucks a lovely ball back for the unmarked Streller inside the box but with the goal at his mercy the striker spoons his shot over the bar.[LNB]82 Basle make another change with Federico Almerares coming on to replace Carlitos.[LNB]81 It's getting a bit scrappy now as Basle lump balls into the box in desperation but Fulham keep getting it clear.[LNB]80 Costanzo's first touch from a back pass is clumsy but he recovers in time to get his goal kick away before Zamora closes in.[LNB]79 Riise attacks down the right but his ball into the box flashes across the face of goal with nobody there to turn it home.[LNB]78 Basle are pushing hard for an equaliser but they are leaving themselves exposed at the back.[LNB]77 Frei twists and turns from the edge of the box but his looping shot is plucked out of the air by Schwarzer.[LNB]76 Riise takes the resulting corner but it comes to nothing as Basle clear their lines.[LNB]75 Johnson appeals for a penalty when he falls to ground under pressure from Safari but the referee is correct to just award a corner.[LNB]74 Sahin unleashes a swirling shot from just outside the box but Schwarzer makes a comfortable save.[LNB]73 Hodgson seems rather anxious as his side edge closer to a vital three points in their Europa League campaign.[LNB]72 Stocker powers forward but his attempted strike from the edge of the box is blocked.[LNB]71 Riise plays a low pass forward which Johnson tries to run onto but Costanzo rushes to the edge of his box to beat the Fulham striker to it.[LNB]70 Zamora falls to the floor under pressure just inside the area but quite rightly no foul is given.[LNB]69 Basle make a change with Abraham making way for Antonio da Silva. That's certainly an attacking substitution.[LNB]67 Johnson tries to sprint away from Cagdas Atan on the right wing but although the Basle player seemingly makes a challenge as the ball goes behind, a goal kick is awarded.[LNB]66 Fulham have a free kick out on the right but when the ball is floated into the area, Costanzo makes a confident claim.[LNB]65 Despite being 1-0 down, the Basle supporters are still making all the noise inside Craven Cottage - they'll be making the most of this night whatever happens on the pitch.[LNB]64 Riise races forward down the right and his chipped cross into the area is headed away, but only as far as Dempsey. The American drills a powerful shot towards goal but Abraham makes a vital block.[LNB]63 Greening is shown the yellow card after he catches Carlitos with a lunging tackle outside the Basle area.[LNB]62 The visitors win a corner on the left but it comes to nothing as Fulham defend stoutly.[LNB]61 Fulham have the upper hand right now and Basle must regret those missed opportunities in the first half.[LNB]60 Zamora now goes for goal from a tight angle on the right and watches the ball narrowly fly over the bar.[LNB]59 Costanzo misjudges a long ball forward but manages to track back in time to prevent Johnson shooting at goal.[LNB]58 This is much better from Fulham and at this moment Basle look rattled by that Murphy goal.[LNB]57 GOAL MURPHY - Fulham come forward down the right with Johnson, who cuts a low cross back for Murphy on the edge of the box and the midfielder coolly fires his shot into the corner of the net.[LNB]56 Dempsey receives a neat pass from Murphy around 25 yards from goal and the American international turns and lashes a shot just wide of the mark.[LNB]55 Riise wriggles his way down the right wing before drilling in a low cross but Zamora fails to control it and the opportunity is lost.[LNB]54 Fulham are looking a little short of ideas while on the ball and chances will come at a premium.[LNB]53 Basle haven't looked fazed whatsoever to be playing at a Premier League venue tonight and if anything are growing stronger in confidence as they dominate possession.[LNB]52 Fulham's fans find their voices when Dempsey wins a corner down the left, but Murphy's resulting cross is headed clear to safety.[LNB]51 The ball breaks for Serkan Sahin around 35 yards from goal and it's hardly surprising to see his hopeful effort fly high into the stands behind the goal.[LNB]50 Basle are on the offensive down the left and win a corner, but it comes to nothing after a poor delivery.[LNB]49 Of course the Cottagers boss is a familiar face in Switzerland having led the country to the 1994 World Cup as well as Euro 94 during a spell in charge of the national team.[LNB]48 Hodgson watches from the dugout visibly plotting a way for his team to make the breakthrough tonight.[LNB]47 Schwarzer's poor clearance goes straight to Carlitos around 30 yards from goal but his subsequent shot is even worse and the ball sails high over the bar.[LNB]46 Fulham get the second half under way hoping to make more of an impression against their Swiss opponents.[LNB] Basle have created the best chances to score so far but Fulham are still favourites to win this clash with Sky Bet at 5/4. The Swiss side are 14/5 for the victory with the draw available at 7/5. Huggel has looked pretty dangerous for the visitors, despite a glaring miss, so the 18/1 about him scoring the game's first goal seems good value.[LNB]45 That's the last action from the half as the referee blows his whistle as Fulham and Basle remain locked at 0-0 in this Europa League encounter at Craven Cottage.[LNB]45 Abraham slips inside the area and allows Johnson the space to shoot but despite being seemingly bundled to the floor by Costanzo, no penalty is given.[LNB]44 A long ball forward searches for Johnson who charges down the right side of the area but David Abraham comes out on top after some strong defending.[LNB]43 Riise's delivery is too low for the lanky Zamora and his stooping header goes well wide for a goal kick.[LNB]42 Fulham get forward down the right and manage to win a corner kick.[LNB]41 Back here at Craven Cottage it has to be said the ball is hardly leaving the deck as both teams continue to play a therapeutic passing game - albeit lacking in cutting edge.[LNB]40 Elsewhere in Group I tonight, Roma are in cruise control against CSKA Sofia as they lead 2-0 thanks to goals from Okaka Chuka and Perrotta.[LNB]39 The hosts look to mount a quick break from their own half but Johnson is cynically cut to the ground and a free kick is given.[LNB]38 Fulham's much-changed unit are gelling much tighter as a team following that shaky spell in which Basle came close to opening the scoring.[LNB]37 There's a bit of a lull in proceedings just now as both sides look to keep possession.[LNB]35 After a long wait Danny Murphy steps up to take it, but his curling effort bends over the bar.[LNB]33 Dempsey produces a lovely turn outside the area but just as he's about to shoot Huggel catches him and Fulham are awarded a free kick.[LNB]32 Basle break on the counter attack with Carlitos down the right wing but his deep cross is claimed by Mark Schwarzer.[LNB]31 Johnson has the ball at his feet just inside the box on the right but his low cross is cut out and cleared.[LNB]30 Fulham are beginning to keep hold of the ball much better than they were before as they play the patient approach.[LNB]29 Huggel tries to break clear down the left but he controls the ball with his arm and the referee spots it.[LNB]28 Having drawn their first game at CSKA Sofia last week, Fulham can't really afford to drop points in this home clash - especially with Roma being the next visitors to the Cottage. And at the moment you wouldn't back against an away win.[LNB]27 Fulham really need to regain their composure in this clash because right now Basle are posing plenty of problems.[LNB]26 Frei whips the resulting cross into the box but once again it comes to nothing and Fulham clear their lines.[LNB]25 The Swiss side continue to dominate and win a corner down the right wing after Paul Konchesky is forced to put the ball behind.[LNB]24 Basle cut through the Fulham defence with a superb team move but with just the goalkeeper to beat Huggel blazes his shot over from close range. That's a woeful miss.[LNB]23 As expected the visitors knock a long ball into the area but Fulham clear it with ease.[LNB]22 Basle are on the front foot once again and win a free kick out on the right of midfield, but they'll look to pump it into the box.[LNB]21 The 1500 travelling supporters are in relentless mood with their chanting while you can hardly hear the home fans.[LNB]20 Basle hurl a long throw into the box which finds its way to Benjamin Huggel and his firm drive whistles just past the post. That's the closest anyone has come to scoring tonight.[LNB]19 Fulham are now beginning to look the most threatening attacking force in this encounter although they've yet to work the goalkeeper.[LNB]18 Johnson dribbles forward with intent after Basle lose possession in midfield and from the edge of the area the Fulham striker's low shot just goes wide, with Franco Costanzo beaten in the Basle goal.[LNB]17 Paul Konchesky chips the ball into the area but Dempsey's header is always going well wide of the target.[LNB]16 Clint Dempsey is now brought to ground around 30 yards from goal and Fulham have a promising free kick.[LNB]15 The referee has words with Jonathan Greening after the Fulham man fouls Marcos Gelabert.[LNB]14 The cross comes into the box but the referee then blows his whistle having spotted an infringement. Free kick to Fulham.[LNB]13 The referee thinks he saw a deflection on that shot and has therefore given Basle a dubious corner.[LNB]12 Kelly slips on the Basle left wing, allowing Behrang Safari to burst forward before crossing low for Frei, who drags his shot wide of the post.[LNB]11 The home crowd have now found their voices as they try to inspire some life into this contest, which has so far failed to produce much entertainment.[LNB]10 The visitors continue to boss possession but so far they've been unable to create any chances to shoot at goal.[LNB]9 Basle go down the other end and win a corner of their own but Alexander Frei's delivery is poor and Fulham head the danger clear.[LNB]8 Stephen Kelly pleads for a corner down the right wing but the referee is having none of it and actually awards Basle a free kick against the Fulham man for a foul.[LNB]7 Fulham are building from the back as they look to take the sting out of Basle's brisk start to the night.[LNB]6 Johnson races away down the right wing and whips in a low cross but Bobby Zamora is unable to turn it goalwards.[LNB]5 Bjorn Helge Riise's brother John Arne, who now plays for Roma, was actually on the losing side against Basle in the last round of Europa League games.[LNB]4 Basle look to carve out an opportunity but Marco Streller's pass towards Valentin Stocker on the left wing is too strong.[LNB]3 Andrew Johnson bursts forward looking to get on the end of a long ball but the Basle defence cut out the threat.[LNB]2 The Swiss supporters are making most of the noise inside Craven Cottage tonight and will be pleased to see their team confidently passing the ball about in these early stages.[LNB]1 Basle get this Europa League clash under way looking to cause what would be considered a surprise victory against the Premier League outfit.[LNB] Fulham are 4/5 favourites with Sky Bet to win tonight's clash while Basle are 7/2 to pick up all three points with the draw available at 5/2. Andrew Johnson is the 4/1 favourite to score the game's first goal but the value could be with Clint Dempsey at 13/2. Head nwo to Skybet.com to place your bets.[LNB] Fulham make five changes for tonight's Europa League clash with Basle at Craven Cottage. Stephen Kelly, Chris Baird, Bjorn Helge Riise, Chris Smalling and Jonathan Greening are all promoted to the starting line-up. Only John Pantsil and Aaron Hughes of Fulham's fit first-team regulars fail to make the starting line-up with both named on the bench. Basle's challenge at Craven Cottage is spearheaded by the veteran strike force of Alexander Frei and Marco Streller. Tonight's referee is Michael Weiner from Germany.[LNB] The Fulham team is: Schwarzer, Kelly, Baird, Smalling, Konchesky, Dempsey, Greening, Murphy, Riise, Zamora, Andrew Johnson. Subs: Pantsil, Nevland, Gera, Kamara, Hughes, Saunders, Anderson.[LNB] The Basle team is: Costanzo, Sahin, Abraham, Atan, Safari, Carlitos, Gelabert, Huggel, Stocker, Frei, Streller. Subs: Colomba, Chipperfield, Almerares, Shaqiri, Cabral, Da Silva, Ferati.[LNB] Welcome to tonight's commentary from the Europa League clash between Fulham and Basle at Craven Cottage. The kick-off is at 2005 BST.[LNB]

Source: SKY_Sports