Source: Telegraph
Hamburg 0 Fulham 0: match report
Fulham's passage to Hamburg may have been difficult but, after another impressive Continental display, the return to this German city could prove to be considerably easier. [LNB]After a 17-hour cross-European road trip to the first leg of this Europa League semi-final, Fulham return to London as the favourites to reach the final, to be played here next month. [LNB]Former Tottenham manager Martin Jol fancies Premier League returnThe signs in the HSH Nordbank Arena suggest that Roy Hodgson's well organised team could be back, with Hamburg offering little to hint at an away win at Craven Cottage. [LNB]Fulham have now gone 416 minutes since they last conceded a goal and the few times goalkeeper Mark Schwarzer was called upon, he dealt with them with ease. [LNB]After their marathon journey, Fulham fielded the side that won in the quarter-finals in Germany, beating Bundesliga champions Wolfsburg 1-0 with a goal after 21 seconds from Bobby Zamora, his sixth in Europe this season. [LNB]And despite the problems associated with the trip here, Fulham were well represented with around 1,500 fans making the journey, well in excess of the 400 the club had anticipated would travel to Northern Germany. [LNB]And if the unexpected expedition through Europe, from Lithuania to Germany via Bulgaria, Russia, Italy, Switzerland and Ukraine, has been a pleasant bonus for those fans, success in this competition for Hamburg is more serious, given the fact that they are struggling in the Bundesliga and host the final next month. [LNB]So Hamburg's early dominance was understandable, yet Fulham stood as firm as they have in other strongholds during this quite remarkable run. [LNB]With only two minutes played Ruud van Nistelrooy, who has in the past enjoyed playing against Fulham with 10 games in nine previous meetings, forged forward but under pressure from Aaron Hughes the Dutchman lost control and Mark Schwarzer gathered safely. [LNB]Piotr Trochowski tried twice in quick succession with long-range attempts and then Jose Paolo Guerrero's effort was blocked by a well-timed interception from Brede Hangeland. But Fulham, stuck in a three-hour traffic jam on their way to Germany, were determined it would not be one-way traffic and responded in the 14th minute. [LNB]Hamburg's Jerome Boateng, widely reported to be joining Manchester City in the summer, got away with a blatant back pass to goalkeeper Frank Rost before Paul Konchesky's long, high ball dropped to Zamora, whose neat lay off allowed Zoltan Gera a shot which deflected off Boateng and narrowly wide. [LNB]As the game progressed so Fulham sensed they had a chance to return to West London with a comfortable result but they squandered a good chance to take advantage of Hamburg's careless play when Trochowski's wayward pass fell straight to Simon Davies but the Welshman's long pass eluded Zamora. [LNB]Fulham were containing Hamburg well, and while they could have made more capital from Hamburg's midfield mistakes, Roy Hodgson's team were both well organised and disciplined. Which could not be said for Hamburg, whose Joris Mathijsen was booked for a clumsy first half challenge on Gera. [LNB]Before the interval van Nistelrooy attempted a 25 yard effort, easily gathered by the German-born Schwarzer; the weakness of the attempt summed up the Germans' poor opening 45 minutes. [LNB]Fulham were first out for the second half but as the game continued so the fitness of Zamora became a concern. The striker appeared, at times in the first half, to be a little off the pace and when he challenged for a ball soon after kick-off he seemed to pull up. [LNB]It did not, however, prevent an attempt in the 49th minute but Zamora's long shot sailed high over the Hamburg bar. Still, though, Fulham looked comfortable, dictating play from the back and reducing Hamburg to long-range efforts. [LNB]Predictably, Zamora's involvement ended soon afterwards when he went off in the 52nd minute with a recurrence of a long-running Achilles problem. At least Fulham could call on Clint Dempsey, back from a three-match absence with a thigh injury and the perfect attacking replacement. [LNB]But the change almost produced a goal on the hour when another error by Hamburg allowed Fulham to counter-attack down the left-flank. Dempsey fed Gera who raced along the wing but his cross, heading for the unmarked substitute, was cut out by a defender and the Germans survived. [LNB]And in the 67th minute Gera had another chance after being put in by Damien duff but the Hungarian, given onside, thought the flag had raised, caught the ball with his hand and was cautioned. [LNB]Fulham held on and when Hamburg made a rare venture forward, a strong but direct effort from captain David Jarolim flying straight into the grateful arms of Schwarzer. [LNB]Another late effort, from van Nistelrooy, was again dealt with comfortably by the Australian, meaning that a journey wish began in July could, remarkably, be extended further. [LNB]
