ESPN Soccernet - Correspondents - Fulham
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Fulham
Posted by Tom Wille on 03/18/2010

Do you believe in miracles? After Thursday, I think I do. Down 3-1 heading to Craven Cottage for the second leg, Fulham needed a miracle to defeat mighty Juventus in the Final 16 of the Europa League. The Cottagers delivered a miracle performance in defeating Juve 4-1 to win the two-legged tie 5-4 on aggregate.

While there were some who had faith in Fulham being able to come back in this tie, I was not one of them. Fortunately, I was wrong and the Cottagers will advance to the final eight of the Europa League. In other words, the dream lives on for Fulham.

What's even more sensational about this comeback is that Juve scored in the second minute through David Trezeguet to seemingly put the match well out of the reach for Fulham. However, the Cottagers had other ideas. First half goals from Bobby Zamora and Zoltan Gera gave the hosts some hope. In the second half, Gera scored another one from the spot from a handball call in the box against Diego. The Cottagers continued to apply the pressure and in the 82nd minute, substitute Clint Dempsey scored the winner much to the joy of a rowdy home crowd at the Cottage.

In all my years supporting this team I do not remember a match in which Fulham was able to do what they did on Thursday. There was no chance for this team to beat Juve, let alone beat them by three goals and advance. I am in shock right now as I am sure most other Fulham supporters are as well.

As always, credit has to go to Roy Hodgson for going all out in this match and getting his players in the mental state of mind to not just compete hard, but to play to win. After the match was tied on aggregate at four, Hodgson took off one of his defenders, Stephen Kelly and brought on Dempsey. It was clear Fulham were going for the jugular and the substitution worked to perfection as Dempsey netted the winner as mentioned earlier.

While the win over Shakhtar was impressive and unexpected, this win was even more shocking. The Cottagers looked lousy in Turin and Juve had control of that match. But on Thursday, it was a different story. Unlike Fulham's southwest London rivals, the Cottagers got it done against a major Italian side in Juventus and will live to fight another day in the Europa League.

This was the most memorable and exciting Fulham match I can remember. I know the matches at the end of the 2007-2008 season to stave off relegation were nervy, but this one had it all. The goals, the crowd, the comeback and everything involved with this match was unreal. This match will not be forgotten by Fulham supporters anytime soon.

On top of that, Europe has surely taken notice that Fulham are not a team to be taken lightly. Juve may have had a few injuries, but on paper they were the better team. It just goes to show you that it's not all about the talent on paper, but how the players mesh and play together as a team as Fulham has done over the last two seasons under Hodgson.

The draw for the final 8 is on Friday I believe. I am sure we will draw a power and I am sure we will be underdogs. However, this Fulham team will be up for the challenge of any team in any location. I do not doubt anything from this team. They are truly special and fun to watch.

Words cannot express how Fulham supporters feel right now. If you can, tell me how you feel about this win today. Were you as shocked as I was? Did anyone honestly expect the Cottagers to come back? Let me know. Also, bottoms up tonight Fulham supporters! It's been a great day to support our beloved club!


Comments

Posted by Matt on 03/18/2010

I was unable to follow the game due to work, but just logged on to see the final score. I CAN'T BELIEVE IT!!! I missed one of the greatest matches in Fulham history, but I don't even care cause the Black and Whites pulled it off. Incredible!

Posted by Texas Girl on 03/18/2010

WOW. Nothing else to say. I have to admit, I was only slightly hopeful before the game and almost lost all faith when we went down, but I should have known not to doubt Super Fulham. What an amazing club to support, and how fitting that Dempsey should be the one to score the winner after being injured. Credit to Hangeland for playing even with an injury, and to Zamora, Schwarzer, and of course Hodgeson for being as great as usual. My English Essay may have suffered a bit due to my close following of the game tonight, but it was 100% worth it. What a night to enjoy. VIVA FULHAM.

Posted by Chris on 03/18/2010

It was a great game, i started watching it after class at like 29 minutes in, and i saw Fulham dominating them, i only realized latter that cannavaro had been sent off, but it does not matter, the chances they had and the plays they made were pure class... gera this season has impressed me alot becoming more consistent, he deserved his goals.... I had the oportunity to watch the game in an italian eatery/cafeteria and with a Juve fan who is my friend, and it gave me great joy to be the only happy person in the place at the final whistle...I will be smiling for days now

Posted by Aussie John on 03/18/2010

WTF!! Says it all. I suggested we needed an early goal to brack the nerves. Juve got it instead and that should have been that for Fulham. Save ourselves for Sundays game against Man City.

But thats not the way this team and coach thinks. Each game can be won, we thrive as a team and it showed tonight at the Cottage.

I am now at work at 7am adelaide time with a warm glow and an extra step in my movements.

Oh what a feeling.

And what about ROY's, Manager of the Year, change in bringing on Dempsey. They could not keep up with Gera and then a fresh running Dempsey comes on to add more speed. AND what a clever goal from a thinking player.

Yes its going to be such a great day and I will celebrate with a few drinks when I get home and watch the replay again, and the same result FULHAM 4 Juve 1

Posted by The corporate man on 03/18/2010

Arsenal fan here in peace, and congratulations on a fantastic victory against juventus. To come from 1-3 down to win 4-1 at home is incredible and i really hope you guys go on to win the cup and in Roy Hodgson you have got a gem of a manager, similar i must say in mannerism, speech and style to our dear arsene. Hodgson, he's my manager of the year after this incredible feat. Well done Fulham all the best for the rest of the season.

Posted by LaunchpadNYC on 03/18/2010

What an unreal win. i thought to myself at halftime that i really wanted to see dempsey, but didn't know who i would take off if i were hodgson because everyone was playing so well and so hard. the logical choice would've been simon davies in my mind, but he was playing his face off.

so what does roy do? naturally takes out kelly and goes for the jugular. i love it when a typically conservative coach let's it all hang out when it matters. and what a call.

What a game. what a win.

Posted by Scott on 03/18/2010

COYW!!! I recorded this game on DVR and I will be watching it many times over. Giving up that early goal made my heart drop, but Fulham's play still gave me hope. Long story short, in Roy we trust.

Posted by Brandon on 03/18/2010

I was watching the game on dvr this afternoon and almost started fast forwarding when juve scored the first goal. I didn't think I wanted to get worked up over the match like I did last week, but I held on for some reason and boy am I glad I did. My two month old daughter slept on my chest for the duration of the game tolerating my quiet yells as we struck post and crossbar early on. She managed to sleep through as I yelled and jostled as we climbed back in, and only awoke as I jumped up when Dempsey brilliantly chipped the ball into the top corner. What I memory that I will have to share with her in the coming years as we chant together "Come on Fulham!".

Posted by Teddy_KGB on 03/19/2010

Took time off work to go home and watch the match. Glad I did. Simply astonishing! I'm still applauding!

Posted by Jonathan Atkinson on 03/19/2010

What a result for Fulham and us, the supporters! The players gave it their all, and Mr Hodgson did "it" again! Bit over the top there Tommy describing Juventus as mighty when they had their third choice keeper, but its hard not to catch your excitement. Now there's no reason we cant win this thing!!

Posted by Linc SLC,UT on 03/19/2010

OMG!!! WTF!!! LOL!!! I was just reading my FaceBook when I saw this result on an Arsenal feed...unbeleivable! I thought no way are Fulham coming back from 3-1 vs. Juve, but sure enough, and Dempsey!!! Following Fulham has just been unreal the last two seasons. Onward and upward!!!

Posted by abd malik Arip on 03/19/2010

don't happy or excite first when Fulham win vs. Juventus, my opinion UEFA League Cup not Juventus priorty, they want UEFA Champions League.This sunday will meet Mancester City at Craven Cottagers,Fulham player already tired mybe they will lost and FA Cup second leg 24.3. vs. Spurs and we know Fulham never win at White Hart Lane.My English Language not good.I hope,who read my comment will understand what i want tell you all

Posted by Zach on 03/19/2010

Wolfsburg's the draw. They've been hot over the last few weeks. None of the teams left in Europa are easy to beat. The new structure has made this tournament highly competitive.

Posted by Shaheed V on 03/19/2010

A day later I still can't believe what I saw. Things like that don't happen to Fulham. We get the calls against us, we play the majority of the game on the back foot... not the other way around. We don't score 4 goals in 4 games, let alone 4 in one game. A game like that only comes along once in a lifetime and although I wish to have been there, I'm glad I watched the whole thing.

Its a shame we probably won't make the Europa League next year, and for some reason we are a different team in league play. But who cares? I enjoying this ride until the wheels fall off. Fulham are the cinderella story of the Europa League and I was there before we got invited to the ball... way before. Sorry if Im rambling on but this is a game I will never forget and nor do I want to.

Posted by Jessica on 03/19/2010

It was the perfect storm of good things for Fulham: Zamora's goal in the 9th to breathe life back into the crowd, Cannavaro's sending off, the penalty and then Clinton Drew Dempsey! That man just has a knack for scoring BIG goals. I was at work watching (try channelsurfing.net- it's a life saver) and I'm shocked that I didn't scream out loud when Clint scored. I simply raised my arms in joy and then lived the longest 10 minutes of my life waiting for the whistle. Hopefully this success will bring confidence for the FA Cup and the rest of the season. I thought we were sunk after the second minute, but now I believe there is nothing we can't accomplish. Still floating on a cloud.... COYW!!

Posted by Roy in NC on 03/19/2010

AWSOME!!! I'm walking around work with a big smile on my face. I'm theonly soccer fan at work and even those who have heard of teams like Man U, liverpool, etc.. have never heard of the mighty Fulham, so I have nobody here I can talk to about the greatest game ever played.
I hope Roy and the boys took note of Mancini's comments before the Juve game. "Juventus can't lose to Fulham" since we see them this Sunday. Make him eat those words.

Posted by peter smith on 03/19/2010

Dempsey!!!!!!
The build up. The injury . Late subsitute. Knock out game. That goal alone was amazing but add all the other things. Wow!
The world is awakening to our talent here in US.
Watch out England! WC
Fullham Rocks!

Posted by ManUtd rock n roll on 03/19/2010

seriously all of this was just a dream. Fantastic build up, tempo and domination. Kudos to Roy, players and also all of their supporters.

Posted by Ga in NJ on 03/19/2010

Tom, it was a great result, and after supporting this lot for 50 years, it was definitely up there with the best of all time.....But, I can't agree with your comment about the performance in Turin. They didn't look lousy at all, and were unlucky to let that third goal in just before half time..Me and my Fulham supporting mate both said we could do it before the game, as Juve didn't look that great in the first leg..however, after Trezeguet's goal in the second minute it did look a bit dodgy, I'll admit!

Posted by sadat ali khan on 03/19/2010

although i am an arsenal fan, i have always had nothing but immense respect and awe for hodgson and david moyes... with the resources they have at their disposal, they have built solid teams... imagine if these guys had what shitbags like mark hughes had at their disposal ?... they would have created world beaters...

Posted by John in New York on 03/20/2010

Toward the end of last season it became clear that Fulham can play on level terms with the very best teams. No superstars. Just a well coached hard working team. What a thrill to see Fulham earn the respect it deserves. Onward and upward!

Posted by fulhamfanusa on 03/20/2010

Amen. Snuck out of work early and was thrilled to actually get a feed here in South Carolina. What a match. This was truly historic.

Posted by dougj on 03/20/2010

I took a vacation from the US to see Fulham play Man Utd and Juventus. The atmosphere in the stadium was amazing, I doubt the Cottage has ever seen anything like it. After the first sending off Fulham was in control and it felt like a matter of time before they got that second goal. Halftime, up 2 goals to 1 and 11 men to 10, I really believed it was going to happen, and I'm not usually prone to optimism in these situations. Didn't have to wait long for the equalizer, and then saw Dempsey warming up on the sideline. I thought it was too much to hope to see Dempsey win it for us... and then he was on. 80 minutes and I was preparing for extra time, and then suddenly... the goal. Unfortunately, I was at the other end of the pitch, and couldn't even tell it was a shot until the leftward momentum of the ball stopped as it hit the side netting and then dropped to the ground. I only realized how amazing the shot was when I saw the replays at the pub. But I did see it live... can't believe it.

Posted by Ethan on 03/20/2010

will winning the europa league bring us european football again next season?

Posted by edin on 03/20/2010

By the look of things,i think Fulam will go all the way to the final!! thank to Roy

Posted by T in Latvia on 03/20/2010

Great, fantastic game !!! I am liverpool suporter, but i like it very much! Respect for fulham! Allways fight for victory like this! And let italians eat pizzas

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