Source: Daily_Mail
Hamburg 0 Fulham 0: Roy's well organised boys withstand German onslaught
Fulham just keep upsetting the odds. Roy Hodgson's side could have been forgiven a below-par display after their nightmare 27-hour journey here, but they found the strength to record their fourth clean sheet in a row and keep this tie right in the balance.[LNB]They will also feel confident about the second leg at a sold-out Craven Cottage next Thursday. If only Hamburg could be made to copy Fulham's travel plans. [LNB]Fulham's Premier League record away from home is poor, but the Londoners have been impressive around Europe this season.[LNB] Salute: Paul Konchesky, Danny Murphy and Aaron Hughes applaud their now well-travelled fans[LNB]They won in Basle and Wolfsburg, when they needed to do so, and they matched their draw in Donetsk with a solid performance here. Defenders Aaron Hughes and Brede Hangeland were particularly resilient.[LNB]Fulham's preparation was hardly ideal for their first European semi-final and the opening leg of the biggest tie in their 131-year history.[LNB]After deciding on Monday that flight restrictions would not necessarily be lifted in time for their scheduled Wednesday morning flight to Hamburg, Fulham embarked on the 595-mile journey by coach and ferry. The players were on a coach for 17 hours of their 27-hour journey, able only to stretch their legs at the side of the motorway near Bremen when stuck in a three-hour traffic jam.[LNB]Around 2,500 Fulham fans also made the trip by whatever means they could. The team will fly back to London today, but with a Premier League game at Everton on Sunday, Hodgson has every right to make as many changes as he wants.[LNB] Injury: Fulham striker Bobby Zamora (right) went off just after the interval[LNB]Goalkeeper Mark Schwarzer admitted it had been an 'uphill struggle' but, then again, the same could apply to most of Fulham's European adventure. They were 4-1 down on aggregate against Juventus and came through, after all. [LNB]Fulham entered the sold-out, 57,000-seater stadium in navy blue shirts and white shorts the first time they have used their away kit in this Europa League campaign.[LNB]There was an early warning from Ruud van Nistelrooy, who latched on to a pass from Dennis Aogo, went past Chris Baird but struggled to get his shot away. [LNB]The 33-year-old scored 10 goals in nine matches against Fulham in his five years with Manchester United, but was a picture of frustration last night as he derided his team-mates for failing to match his runs with killer passes.[LNB]Piotr Trochowski, who will miss the second leg after picking up a yellow card, hit two long-range shots in the first 10 minutes as Hamburg zipped the ball around in Fulham's half. Jonathan Pitroipia, playing on the left wing but frequently cutting inside and threatening with his pace, was a real menace.[LNB] Hitting the skids: Zoltan Gera (right) and Ze Roberto toughed it out in midfield[LNB]But the visitors' two banks of four held firm, displaying the organisation that has served Fulham so well in Europe this season. Hodgson's side have now gone 416 minutes without conceding a goal.[LNB]Trochowski also tested Mark Schwarzer with a dipping 30-yard effort after 72 minutes, before captain David Jarolim hit a powerful first-time shot from 10 yards straight at the Australia goalkeeper.[LNB]Fulham barely had a touch of the ball in the first 35 minutes, as their players stuck to the energy-sapping task of trying to close down their opponents and strike on the counter-attack.[LNB]A long ball from Paul Konchesky provided Fulham's first threat after 14 minutes. The left back floated a pass to Bobby Zamora, who flicked on to Zoltan Gera. The Hungarian's shot was deflected a yard wide of the right post as Jarolim intervened.[LNB]Simon Davies wasted the opportunity for a counter-attack when he intercepted a stray pass from Trochowski after 27 minutes, hitting his long ball to Zamora too far in front of the striker. Gera then failed to capitalise on a loose pass from Manchester City target Jerome Boateng.[LNB] On the run: Damien Duff (left) tries to escape the attentions of Ze Roberto[LNB]Zamora left the field on 52 minutes. The striker had not looked comfortable since picking up a knock in the warm-up and was replaced by Clint Dempsey. Zamora had also been struggling with a sore achilles.[LNB]MATCH FACTS HAMBURG (4-4-1-1): Rost 6; Demel 6 (Rincon 82min), Boateng 7, Mathijsen 6, Aogo 6; Trochowski 6, Jarolim 6,Ze Roberto 6, Pitroipa 7; Guerrero 6 (Petric 72, 6); van Nistelrooy 6.[LNB]Booked: Mathijsen, Trochowski.[LNB]FULHAM (4-4-1-1): Schwarzer 6; Baird 7, Hughes 7, Hangeland 7, Konchesky 6;Duff 6, Etuhu 6, Murphy 6, Davies 6;Gera 6; Zamora 6 (Dempsey 52, 6).[LNB]Booked: Baird, Gera.[LNB]Man of the match: Aaron Hughes.[LNB]Referee: Claus Bo Larsen (Denmark). [LNB]Substitute Mladen Petric made an impact as he shrugged off a groin injury to fire a tricky shot at Schwarzer with two minutes of normal time left, then sent an effort fizzing over the bar from 30 yards. The Croatian has scored nine goals in Europe this season and will be a handful if fit for the full 90 minutes next week.[LNB]Thursday night was Fulham's 17th match of a remarkable Europa League campaign that started in July. Hodgson's side have now travelled more than 15,000 miles in pursuit of European glory and have now played their 57th game of the season.[LNB]After knocking out holders Shakhtar Donetsk, two-time European Cup winners Juventus and Bundesliga champions Wolfsburg, Fulham were back in Germany to play the 1983 European Cup champions.[LNB]A signed black and white photograph of former Fulham boss Kevin Keegan, who played for Hamburg from 1977 to 1980 and started in the German side's 1-0 defeat by Nottingham Forest in the 1980 European Cup final, is displayed proudly in the VIP entrance to the Nordbank Arena.[LNB]Premier League fans will hope another of Keegan's former clubs, Liverpool, will be back in Hamburg with Fulham come May 12 for the Europa League final.[LNB][LNB]MATCH ZONE at the Nordbank Arena Boateng sails awayManchester City prospect Jerome Boateng showed his inexperience on Thursday night. The youngest player on the pitch at 21, he just got away with a stray backpass and followed it with a handball and two fouls. If they are to pay £11million for him, City will expect less naivety.[LNB][LNB]One step too farFulham's players and about 2,500 fans managed the epic journey to Hamburg, despite cancelled flights making it a 27-hour trip. But UEFA officials who were meant to attend couldn't quite manage it.[LNB][LNB]Cross out ChrisChris Baird's yellow card for a foul on Jonathan Pitroipa was his third of this season's competition and he will miss the return leg in London. It will be a big blow for Fulham.[LNB][LNB]Bruno fearing axeHamburg manager Bruno Labbadia will be preparing for the chop. This could be his last season leading the Germans, who have won only four of their last 14 games. Despite a solid display, the pressure is on for them to reach the final which will be at their stadium.[LNB] Atletico Madrid 1 Liverpool 0: Manchester United flop Diego Forlan makes the differenceEUROPA LEAGUE LIVE: Follow the action from Atletico Madrid v Liverpool and Hamburg v Fulham - as it happensFulham stay on road to Europa League final with a motorway kickaboutFULHAM FC
