Source: Team_Talk
Gera hails 'most important' goal
Zoltan Gera hailed his matchwinner in tonight's Europa League semi-final against Hamburg as the "most important goal" of his career.[LNB] The Hungarian struck after 76 minutes at Craven Cottage to cap a fine comeback by the hosts and book Fulham's place in the final.[LNB]Trailing to Mladen Petric's spectacular first half free-kick, Fulham's European adventure spanning 18 games appeared to have reached the end.[LNB]But they staged a spirited fightback with Simon Davies producing a wonderfully-taken equaliser in the 70th minute before Gera struck the winner shortly after.[LNB]"It's the most important goal I have ever scored so I'm very, very happy. It's amazing," Gera told ITV4. "We did so well, every single player."[LNB]Fellow goalscorer Davies was equally thrilled by the performance and credited Fulham boss Roy Hodgson as the motivation behind the second-half fightback.[LNB]"The manager said at half-time keep playing your football and you'll get your rewards, and we did tonight so we're buzzing," said the Welshman.[LNB]"We've played some great teams [in this competition] and come from behind. Everyone was amazing tonight."[LNB]Danny Murphy, whose pass set up Davies for the leveller, added: "It just keeps getting better.[LNB]"When we went a goal behind 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."[LNB]Goalkeeper Mark Schwarzer also paid tribute to both his team-mates and manager after one of the most famous nights in the west London club's history.[LNB]"This team has got an unbelievable amount of spirit and character to come back from a goal down," said the Australian.[LNB]"They really did rock us and it took us a while to get going again.[LNB]"He [Hodgson] has been fantastic since day one when I arrived at the club, and every player can vouch for that."[LNB]
