Source: Daily_Mail
Juventus 3 Fulham 1: Cottagers cling to Dickson Etuhu's lifeline
After narrowly avoiding relegation from the Barclays Premier League less than two years ago, Fulham fans would never have dreamt of playing Juventus in the last 16 of the Europa League. [LNB]But here they were yesterday, sipping their beer in the sun in one of the city's piazzas in anticipation of the biggest European match in their club's history. [LNB]There was, therefore, a definite feeling of anti-climax when the Stadio Olimpico boasted more empty grey seats than Juventus fans. Fewer than 9,000 home supporters turned up in the 27,000- seater stadium, but Fulham sold out their allocation and brought 1,537 fans from west London. [LNB] Trezegol delivers: David Trezeguet hit Juve's third[LNB]The sense of bathos continued as David Trezeguet forced a saveinside eight minutes from Mark Schwarzer and Juventus scored from theresulting corner as Diego's delivery was headed in by central defenderNicola Legrottaglie. [LNB]It was immediately apparent that this was not going to be a repeatof Fulham's 4-0 FA Cup victory over Notts County, the side who inspiredJuventus' famous black and white striped shirts, and it was Fulham wholooked in danger of being turned over in Turin. [LNB]Juventus struck again after 25 minutes. A probing build-up endedwith Jonathan Zebina sidestepping Simon Davies and Dickson Etuhu beforedispatching a fierce right-foot shot into the left hand corner fromjust outside the box. [LNB]Fulham conceded one Premier League goal in the whole of February butlast night they were two down inside half an hour. Yet not only did theEnglish side manage to keep the score respectable, they got an awaygoal with their first real attack of the match. [LNB] Lucky strike: Etuhu gives Fulham a ray of hope with his deflected away goal[LNB]A Davies free-kick into a crowded penalty area was met by Etuhu andthe ball was deflected twice before dribbling over the line to beatformer Arsenal goalkeeper Alex Manninger. It was a fortunate goal tosay the least, but it gave Fulham the belief they had lacked in ashellshocked first 30 minutes and sparked something of a revival. [LNB]Brede Hangeland forced a fine save from Manninger with a close-rangeheader from a Davies corner and Zoltan Gera hit the target with aleft-foot strike just before half-time. [LNB]MATCH STATSJUVENTUS (4-3-2-1): Manninger 6; Zebina 7, Legrottaglie 7, Cannavaro 6, Grosso 6; Salihamidzic 6 (Camoranesi 46min, 6), Poulsen 6 (Sissoko 75, 6), Marchisio 6; Candreva 6, Diego 7; Trezeguet 8 (Iaquinta 62, 6).Booked: Legrottaglie.[LNB]FULHAM (4-4-1-1): Schwarzer 5; Baird 5, Hangeland 6, Hughes 6, Konchesky 6; Duff 5, Greening 5, Etuhu 5, Davies 6 (Dempsey 60, 6); Gera 6; Zamora 6.Booked: Greening.[LNB]Man of the match: David Trezeguet.[LNB]Referee: Florian Meyer (Germany).[LNB][LNB]But Fulham's prominence was short-lived as Trezeguet showed hisclass with the 170th goal of his Juventus career. The former Francecentre forward, who is returning from injury, fired a shot at Schwarzerfrom a Diego corner and hit the rebound first time to outwit theAustralia goalkeeper just before half-time. [LNB]It gets worse for Schwarzer, the Barclays Premier League player ofthe month in February: he has to face Wayne Rooney at Old Trafford onSunday. [LNB]Fulham manager Roy Hodgson said: 'I thought when we went 1-0 downagainst the run of play and at 2-1 I thought we were lookingreasonable. There's going to be an element of fatigue but what killedthe game for us was the goal in the 46th minute. [LNB]'Our major regret was that, at 2-1, when the possibility of a resultwas in our hands that we conceded a goal in added-on time in the firsthalf.'[LNB]But Fulham are still in this tie and boast an impressive home recordat Craven Cottage, which is sold out for the return leg on March 18. [LNB] Scorching strike: Fulham paid the price for backing off Jonathan Zebina[LNB]Hodgson added: 'It's not impossible. We're not out of it yet. 'Idon't think we were favourites before the game started, we're even lessfavourites now but it'll be an exciting game. I've certainly seenstranger things than us turning it round.'[LNB] There was further good news for Fulham as Paul Konchesky and ClintDempsey, who both suffered knee injuries against Blackburn in January,came through 90 minutes and half an hour respectively. [LNB]With 46 games played already this season and Manchester United,Juventus, Manchester City and Tottenham in store over the next twoweeks, Fulham certainly need all their resources available. [LNB] Off to a flyer: Juve's Nicola Legrottaglie (third left) nods in the opener[LNB]Hodgson said: 'It's a testing time but to come to a place likeJuventus and have as much control as we did for long periods is verycommendable.[LNB] 'Perhaps we weren' t as sprightly as we've been in some games but Ithought we looked organised, capable of keeping the ball and gettingbehind them, but it was the last pass or the last cross that didn'tquite arrive. [LNB]'But the Juventus back four will know they've been in a game andwill be thankful for (Fabio) Cannavaro making several vitalinterceptions from crosses.' [LNB] Fulham boss Roy Hodgson relishing dream Europa tie with mighty JuventusLEO'S LONDON: John Terry must not follow Frank Lampard's path if he is to rise above the hate mobFULHAM FC
