Fulham v Hamburger @ the Cottage

Fact: In the season 2009-10, the only British football club to compete in a European final will be Fulham Football Club-- The Pride of England.

 

2010: Fulham is the final English club in Europe! How great is that?

2010: Fulham are Europa League finalists! How fantastic is that?

Today's match was another magnificent performance all around. Bobby Zamora created an early chance inside Hamburg's box with a nice turn and a well aimed shot toward the far right hand post. After Bobby's turn put him one-on-one with the keeper I thought for certain Fulham would take an early lead in the tie but Hamburg's keeper Frank Rost was up to the challenge managing to parry the shot away with his left hand. After the early threat from Fulham faded Hamburg began to enjoy the better of the possession but they could not manage to penetrate the Fulham defense from open play as ball after ball was cleared over the end line or touch line by Fulham defenders. I lost track of the number of first half corner kicks but it seemed like an endless stream of Hamburg corners all of which were sent across the Fulham goal mouth in vain. The first half settled into a rhythm of Hamburg knocking the ball around while Fulham's defense thwarted their attacking efforts. Fulham would make the occasional foray into the Hamburg end only to be turned away or offer up the occasional lack luster shot.

The established rythym of play was only broken by a picture perfect free kick in the 22nd minute putting Hamburg on the board with the first goal of the tie. Hamburg could not have asked for the ball to be placed in a more dangerous position than they were granted after Danny Murphy was whistled for a foul a little over twenty-five yards out and directly in front of the Fulham goal. Hamburg's #10 Hladan Petric sent a swerving shot over the Fulham wall and into the upper left hand corner of the goal mouth. Try as he might Mark Schwarzer was no match for the perfect shot offered up by Petric. The first half came to a close with Hamburg leading Fulham 1-0.

As has often been the case this season Fulham found their scoring boots at the half. Needing two goals and a clean sheet in the second half Fulham continued to have the answer for Hamburg's offensive tactics and found a better offensive rhythm of their own. The offense really picked up the pace after Clint Dempsey was subbed on for an obviously struggling Bobby Zamora. While Fulham's first half passing was not bad the final ball to create a good shooting opportunity was for the most part lacking. In the second half Fulham were finding themselves in better positions and Danny Murphy finally unlocked the Hamburg defense with a beautiful ball over the top to a streaking Simon Davis. The amount of skill shown by Davies to control the ball out of the air and put it past Rost into the net was breathtaking. A deft touch to put the ball in front of him, a juggle off the top of his foot to pull it from his right hand side away from the defender to his left hand side and a skillfully placed half-volley with his left foot past the on-rushing Rost pulled Fulham even in the match but still left them trailing in the tie on away goals. My words do not begin to do the goal justice as the ball was in the air for most of Davis' touches and it would have been far easier to misplay the ball and lose possession than put it in the back of the net but Simon's class was on full display to the joy of Fulham fans everywhere.

While Fulham's first goal was a thing of beauty the second goal sums up Zoltan Gera's contribution to Fulham this season. Gera has become Fulham's engine and he just does not quit on a ball ever. He has become a goal poacher supreme and when Simon Davis corner kick ricocheted off of Dickson Etuhu to Zoltan Gera things finally fell Fulham's way. Gera calmly collected the ball and turned and fired a shot past everyone to give Fulham a 2-1 lead and ultimately entry into the Europa League finals.

The final fifteen minutes plus stoppage time saw Hamburg create only one real opportunity but when the ball fell to van Nistelrooy's feet some eight yards in front of the Fulham goal I think my heart tried to come out of my chest until the shot from van Nistelrooy rolled joyfully wide and Hamburg would not threaten the Fulham goal again.

This has truly been a tremendous team effort so far and I am sure Roy will have the squad fully prepared for the second trip to Hamburg. What a joy it would be to add:

2010: Fulham are Europa League Champions to the already wonderful list above.

 

About to watch the highlights now. I think I would have had a freaking heart attack trying to watch the game. As it was, I was bouncing in my chair following the second half online.

What a beautiful, beautiful victory. Bring on May 12th!

 

does anyone have the entire game as a torrent or a file somewhere. Someone was gracious enough to put the juventus game up, but I would love to have a copy of this one too.

 

I woke up this morning and dreamed Fulham made it to the Europa CUP Final, wow what a dream it was, anyone else have the same dream!!!

 

Nice Martin!

It was amazing. I am going back to watch the game again today just to make sure it really happened!

 

I just started watching the premier league about 10 years ago while I was in the Navy stationed in Bahrain. I never really had a club I supported until McBride came to Fulham. Then I made a habit of watching his games and kind of grew entranced by this scrappy London club. At first I just watched that games with little emotion, but at some point I realized I had become an ardent supporter. Over the years I would come to realize I was heading to the bar at 7 in the morning to catch a game on Setanta or cutting out early to catch a rare Monday game. I watched a struggling Fulham get by Liverpool thanks to a Dempsey goal. I remember being ecstatic about that goal and telling everyone I knew about it regardless of whether they followed the sport or not. Then there was the great escape. When I thought all was lost and relegation was all but inevitable, I was really upset. Then somehow they did the impossible to stay up. Then Fulham put together a great season and qualified for Europe. The thought of this seemed near impossible in seasons prior. Then this season somehow they made it the best one yet. They were strong is every competition.

The point I suppose I’m trying to make is that I love this team. If fact much of my life revolves around this team. I occasionally get a weird look from a waitress or bartender when I scream when Fulham scores, but I’m ok with it (in fact I kind of like it). After Fulham netted the second goal yesterday I was beaming and the bartender came over and said “Brad, I’m really happy for you.” I guess I’ve just come to realize that this is my team and few things make me happier than catching a game. So come the Final you can find me with a huge smile on my face soaking up every second. Win or lose, I’m proud to support Fulham.

Oh, and COYW!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

 

I have decided to celebrate the victory with a glass of champers at Harrods.

Wishing you were here.

 

Dang, Fog! If I would've known I'd be on the front page again, I would have written something more "detailed" !!! Thanks, man!

-T

 

I had to watch it last night on the DVR. After we were down by one at the half, I strangely wasn't too concerned. I was starting to get nervous until the first goal. I just knew our chances were good. When I saw the second goal score I yelled so loud I woke my dogs and wound them up. Those last 15 minutes of the game were tense.

I thought the que sera song was being changed to "que gera gera," but the rest of it didn't make sense in my head.

I have a long drive ahead two Wednesdays from now.

 

I waited for the GolTV replay since I could not get out of work. I'd had a weird day and the GolTV picture quality was weird and I just didnt feel good about this game at all. Then Petric scored on a perfect free kick that we could do nothing about (well, other than Murph) to confirm my bad vibes.

But if there is one universal truth on this earth, I have learned that it is to never give up on Fulham Football Club.

At halftime, I decided to have a beer - an English beer since Fulham is, you know, English. The beer swiftly extinguished the bad vibes and shortly after, Davies scored! What a skillful goal from a consummate footballer.

As everyone knows, GolTV is a hispanic station. I'm not bothered by the pregame and halftime spanish language commercials, lets my son practice his spanish, but as an avid US MNT fan, the commercials with the Mexican national team unsettle me. However, I went with the flow and chose a Mexican beer next. I figured English team, English beer, first goal; perhaps hispanic station, mexican beer, second goal. And of course that's exactly what happened - a beautiful, quick instinctive goal from Gera. It's my way of paying hommage to the beer gods and the laws of superstition at the same time, and it actually works, even when the game has already been played.

This is four seasons in a row now where the brilliant boys in white have made my day, month, season, and each year has eclipsed the previous. Simply unbeleiveble and as Don alluded to, I cant imagine how it feels for the lifetime supporters.

Thanks to the mighty whites, Woy, MAF, everyone at FUSA, and Fulham Football Club - I feel like a kid again. :banana: :banana: :banana:

BTW Barry P, I really liked this bit of writing

 

http://soccernet.espn.go.com/scoreboard ... 12&cc=5901

Look, it's already there, under the words "UEFA Europa League (FINAL)"

 

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wMVDeP93Nak

 

Like this quote from a Villa fan, taken from a thread on an AV supporters site.

and another great post from a BBC blog

 

Came home from my beer league softball game and watched the match again, and hell if I wasn't nervous watching the final 15 minutes. Just an unbelievable team effort and atmosphere. Every supporter there last night played a part in willing the team on.

 

As I watch the highlights, I find one scene particularly moving. There is a crowd shot taken just a Davies is scoring his goal. A young blond-headed boy -- perhaps 10 or 12 years old -- jumps to his feet a moment before the rest of the crowd, his eyes huge with anticipation. He senses, even before his elders, what is about to happen. A split second later the crowd around him "catches up to him" and jumps to their feet and goes nuts.

Its a priceless moment. And I suspect that boy will now be a Fulham fan 'till the day he dies.

 

Mo was addressing This thread on VillaTalk

Congrats to Fulham
- You wont find a more complimentary bunch anywhere... but let me say, the Evertonians on GrandOldTeam were chuffed, as well... for an additional reason.

- Why is CLEVELANDMo reading VillaTalk... err... think about it!

8)

 

Oh my God!

To quote Jack Buck, "I DON'T BELIEVE WHAT I JUST SAW!!"

I can't do it now, but I am submitting something for the front page for this.

Atletico is beatable, especially by this team!

 

I looked for one last night but couldn't find one. I've been checking TIFF, http://www.voy.com/13865/ but haven't seen anything yet. That's were I found the Juve and Wolfsburg 2nd legs at.

 

I just read somewhere that Fulham's allocation of 11,200 tickets for the final I think it said has SOLD OUT in 7 hours of going on sale, Ive been reading so much today dont ask me where I read it I cant find it now, but it said something like that?