Source: Telegraph
Shakhtar Donetsk 1 Fulham 1; agg 2-3: match report
Fulham recorded one of the greatest results in their history when they knocked holders Shakhtar Donetsk out of the Europa League and moved into the last sixteen of the competition. [LNB]Brede Hangeland's first half goal gave Fulham a 3-1 aggregate advantage and though Jadson responded in the 70th minute, Roy Hodgson's team held out to book a place against Juventus or Ajax. [LNB] Related ArticlesEuropa League tablesFulham complain over web revelationsEuropa League fixturesDonbass Arena hints at eastern Europea's growing statureHodgson: Fulham can be proud win or loseSport on televisionBut the one disappointment was a red card shown to Danny Murphy in added time for kicking out agt Darijo Srno, but the decision left manager Roy Hodgson fuming. [LNB]Whenever Shakhtar attacked the roar from the crowd was spine-tingling. Having won the Uefa Cup last season, the Ukrainians were determined to maintain their challenge for the latest version. [LNB]Proof of their determination to cancel Fulham's slender advantage quickly came when Luiz Adriano, whose goal at Craven Cottage gave Shakhtar hope, tested goalkeeper Mark Schwarzer with a tame effort inside the first minute. [LNB]The next threat was more dangerous with another Brazilian, Willian, unleashing a potentially threatened 30 yard drive which forced Schwarzer to save well, parrying the ball over the bar. [LNB]The fever-pitch atmosphere in this magnificent arena increased further as Shakhtar continued to press and Fulham were relieved when Jadson side-footed a good chance wide of the target. [LNB]And after Luiz Adriano squandered another opportunity, Schwarzer made an even more impressive save, the Australian arching to his right to deny what looked a certain goal, from Fernandinho. [LNB]As they showed in London, Shakhtar are slick and quick with five Brazilians dictating the frenzied pace of this absorbing contest. [LNB]Even Bobby Zamora, who scorfed the vital winner at Craven Cottage, was forced to help out in defence as Fulham faced a barrage of orange and black attacks. [LNB]Shakhtar forced their 11th goal attempt when Schwarzer saved again, from Razvan Rat, as early as the 27th minute to highlight the home side's total dominance. [LNB]Fulham rarely ventured into the Shakhtar half but on a rare foray it was wasted, with Chris Baird failing to control Danny Murphy's clever cross-field delivery. [LNB]Yet Fulham, so typically this season, overcame adversity to stun the home crowd when, in the 33rd minute, they took the lead, claiming a valuable away goal and extending their advantage to 3-1 on aggregate. [LNB]Zamora won a free-kick on the right and from Damien Duff's perfect delivery Hangeland flicked his header into find the top corner to claim only his second goal of the season, following his first in the group stages against Roma. [LNB]By half time, Shakhtar had forced 11 corners and forced 14 goal attempts to Fulham's two but the Premier League side were just 45 minutes from an outstanding achievement. [LNB]Shakhtar made two early changes and still they attacked, with Schwarzer saving again from Luiz Adriano. [LNB]One of the newcomers, Douglas Costa, tested Fulham's resolve further with a darting run into the area but his cross was cut out by Aaron Hughes before the substitute fired another attempt over. [LNB]In the 65th minute Fulham could have added a second when Duff fed Zamora, but his cross for Zoltan Gera was cut out by a defender. [LNB]Schwarzer was almost caught out by a dipping 40 yard effort from Yaroslav Rakitskiy, but the goalkeeper still managed to save. [LNB]The pressure eventually told, in the 70th minute, when Douglas fed Jadson and he found the bottom corner, and the Donbass Arena burst into life, with Shakhtar chasing a second goal. [LNB]But Fulham frustrated Shakhtar until the end to claim a remarkable result. [LNB]Last-16 draw[LNB]Juventus v FulhamAtlético Madrid v Sporting LisbonValencia v W BremenHamburg v AnderlechtBenfica v MarseilleLille v LiverpoolPanathinaikos v Standard LiegeRubin Kazan v WolfsburgTwo-leg ties to be played March 11 & 18[LNB]
