Fulham 4-1 Juventus - Match Report

Published: 18 Mar 2010 - 20:08:00

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A stunning chip from Clint Demspey helped Fulham to a famous 4-1 victory over 9-man Juventus at Craven Cottage and secured their passage into the Europa Cup quarter-finals.

Dempsey, returning after a long absence with injury, found space at the edge of the box and deftly curled the ball into the top corner to give Fulham five minutes to hold out against the Italians.

Fulham came into the game 3-1 down after a defeat at the Stadio Olimpico and David Trezeguet looked to have finished the job just two minutes into the clash.

The Juventus captain pounced on a loose ball from Hasan Salihamidzic's cross to poke the ball past Mark Schwarzer.

From then on Fulham could easily have capitulated but they were on level terms within 10 minutes thanks to a great Bobby Zamora finish.

Paul Konchesky swung over a cross from the left and Zamora, despite a hint of a shove on the defender, controlled and volleyed home from five yards out.

The controversial decision in the game came just before the half hour mark as former World Player of the Year Fabio Cannavaro brought Zoltan Gera down.

Zamora fed a tantalising ball through for the Hungarian who looked to be heading for goal when he was felled by Cannavaro, who was given his marching orders.

By now Fulham were well in the ascendency; Simon Davies cracked the woodwork with a wonderful effort before Dickson Etuhu hit the post from point blank range.

Their dominance was rewarded five minutes before the interval when Davies put the ball on a plate for Gera who tapped in his first.

With the home side sensing an upset, they came out in the second period with intent and did not have to wait long for a chance to pull level on aggregate.

A Damien Duff cross was handled by Diego and the referee had no hesitation in pointing to the spot and Gera send goalkeeper Antonio Chimenti the wrong way.

With the tie finely poised with an aggregate score of 4-4, Juventus desperately tried to find a way past the Cottagers' resolute defence but it was the home side who looked the more likely to win the tie in normal time.

Chimenti had to be alert to parry efforts from Davies, Gera and Dempsey before a moment of magic from the American sent West London into a frenzy.

The announcer at Craven Cottage summed up the achievement over the tannoy, saying: "You will tell your kids that you were here when Fulham beat Juventus!"

Having not had much time to take it all in, left-back Konchesky said: "It was the biggest game in the club's history and the boys have done it.

"We got through to the last eight and you never know what can happen. Playing like that we have always got a chance," he added.

- By David Brenchley at Craven Cottage