Europe League - Juventus 3 Fulham 1:FULHAM WILL need to deliver what would arguably be the greatest result in the club's history if they are to overcome Juventus at Craven Cottage next Thursday.
David Trezeguet’s strike just as half-time beckoned means the Premier League club have a two-goal deficit to overturn. The crucial away goal that Dickson Etuhu grabbed earlier in the first half means Fulham are not without hope. But things could have looked even better had the visitors shown a more ruthless streak.
Opportunities came and went prior to Trezeguet’s 170th goal of his Juventus career as Fulham recovered from a dismal opening.
It took only nine minutes for the visitors’ defence to be breached. Diego’s outswinging corner kick was met by Nicola Legrottaglie who headed powerfully beyond Schwarzer from eight yards.
And Juventus’s early dominance would soon be rewarded with a second goal. Simon Davies and Etuhu allowed Jonathan Zebina to dart between them and the full-back arrowed a wonderful 25-yard shot into the far corner.
After 36 minutes Etuhu gave Fulham hope with a deflected shot that left Alex Manninger stranded and Fulham had three excellent chances in a five-minute period before the break,
Brede Hangeland’s close-range header was clawed to safety by Manninger and Bobby Zamora and Zoltan Gera drew saves from the former Arsenal goalkeeper.
But on the stroke of half-time Trezeguet showed wonderful reactions to volley home from 10 yards after his first shot had cannoned back off the post.
Fulham took the game to Juventus in the second half but failed to yield the second goal that would have changed the tie.
l Guardian Service
JUVENTUS:Manninger, Cannavaro, Grosso, Zebina, Legrottaglie, Salihamidzic (Camoranesi 46), Marchisio, Poulsen (Sissoko 75), Candreva, Diego, Trezeguet (Iaquinta 62). Booked:Legrottaglie. Subs not used:Pinsoglio, Grygera, De Ceglie, Del Piero.
FULHAM:Schwarzer, Konchesky, Hangeland, Baird, Hughes, Gera, Duff, Etuhu, Greening, Davies (Dempsey 60), Zamora. Booked:Greening. Subs not used:Zuberbuhler, Kelly, Smalling, Marsh-Brown, Nevland
Referee:Meyer.
