Home - News - article
Fulham 2 Odense 2: Cottagers' Europa dream shattered in final second
Posted Thursday, December 15, 2011 by Dailymail

Fulham began their campaign during Wimbledon fortnight but couldn't quite make it to Christmas as they were dumped out of the Europa League in dramatic style.

Odense substitute Djiby Fall struck with a header in the third minute of stoppage time to deny Martin Jol's side a place in the last 32 as Wisla Krakow beat FC Twente in the other Group K game.

It was a cruel way to end a journey that still managed to take in 14 matches, but it was also a very difficult night for a goalkeeper playing his first senior game for Fulham.

Fulham 2 Odense 2: Cottagers' Europa dream shattered in final second
Heads you lose: Fall nods home the equaliser to send Fulham out of the Europa League

Philippines No 1 Neil Etheridge, 21, made his debut in place of Mark Schwarzer, who is expected to miss at least six weeks with a spinal injury.

But, with England squad member David Stockdale already recalled from his loan spell at Ipswich Town, Etheridge's run in the first team looks unlikely to be extended to Saturday's Barclays Premier League visit of Bolton.

The goalkeeper was not, of course, solely responsible for Fulham's collapse after goals from Clint Dempsey and Kerim Frei had given them what seemed a comfortable 2-0 half-time lead. But his inexperience did not help and he looked devastated at the whistle.

The Fulham wall was poorly constructed for Hans Henrik Andreasen's 64th-minute free-kick, but the young keeper had little chance with Fall's equaliser after the substitute nipped in front of Aaron Hughes to convert Espen Ruud's cross and stun Craven Cottage.

As the hosts' manager Martin Jol admitted, his side simply did not have 'enough cleverness or experience to keep the ball in their half '.

« Previous123456789Next »

Standings
    Rank Team W/D/L Pts

    Cities & Stadiums

    The Top 3 Teams of Previous Tournaments

    Year Winners Runner-up Third place
    2008SpainGermanyRussia / Turkey
    2004GreecePortugalNetherlands / Czech Republic
    2000FranceItalyNetherlands / Portugal
    1996GermanyCzech RepublicFrance / England
    1992DenmarkGermanyNetherlands / Sweden
    1988NetherlandsSoviet UnionItaly / West Germany
    1984FranceSpainDenmark / Portugal
    1980West GermanyBelgiumCzechoslovakia
    1976CzechoslovakiaWest GermanyNetherlands
    1972West GermanySoviet UnionBelgium
    1968ItalyYugoslaviaEngland
    1964SpainSoviet UnionHungary
    1960Soviet UnionYugoslaviaCzechoslovakia