Brave Fulham robbed in Rome

Nevland and Konchesky sent off as Okaka header seals win for Italians

Last updated: 5th November 2009   Subscribe to RSS Feed

Brave Fulham robbed in Rome

Aaron Hughes and Stefano Okaka tussle

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Fulham's battling performance at the Stadio Olimpico went without reward as the nine men crashed to a 2-1 defeat by Roma in Europa League E.

The Premier League side held a half-time lead thanks to Diomansy Kamara's penalty, but the dismissal of Erik Nevland let Roma back into the contest.

John Arne Riise levelled for the Italian giants, with a little help from his brother, and Stefano Okaka Chuka secured the win before Paul Konchesky was sent off late on.

The Cottagers were in front after 19 minutes when Kamara fired home from the penalty spot after the Senegalese striker had been brought down by Marco Andreolli following Clint Dempsey's pass inside.

Philippe Mexes was close to heading Roma level, and Dempsey then took too long to get his shot away, before the game turned in the hosts' favour four minutes after half-time.

Nevland, who had only been introduced at the interval for the injured Kamara, was shown a straight red card following a needless challenge from behind on Daniele De Rossi, although the decision appeared harsh on the Norwegian striker.

Roma slowly cranked up the pressure and equalised in fortunate circumstances on 69 minutes when John Arne Riise's 25-yard drive clipped one Fulham player before taking a decisive deflection off his brother Bjorn Helge to wrong-foot Mark Schwarzer.

The winning goal then arrived on 76 minutes when Rodrigo Taddei fired in a cross from the right and Okaka headed home despite the best efforts of Schwarzer.

The night finished on a further low note for Fulham when Paul Konchesky was shown a straight red card for a foul on Taddei, with the decision again appearing a little tough on Fulham.

Frenetic pace

After being forced to settle for a draw in the first game between the two sides in London, Roy Hodgson's team were determined to claim all three points in Rome.

The game began at a frenetic pace as both sides attempted to impose their play.

Fulham put a good move together in the eighth minute when Konchesky fed Bjorn Helge Riise inside the area but his right-footed shot was blocked by Mexes.

At the other end, Aaron Hughes did well to clear Stefano Guberti's dangerous cross from the left.

Fulham broke the deadlock in the 19th minute when Andreolli brought down Kamara, the striker sending Roma goalkeeper Alexander Doni the wrong way from the spot.

Roma almost pulled level midway through the first half but Mexes' powerful header from Cicinho's cross from the right went inches wide of the far post.

On the half-hour mark, Julio Baptista's acrobatic kick went wide as Roma pressed forward in search of an equaliser.

In the 37th minute, Kamara had a golden chance to extend Fulham's lead but his powerful header from Konchesky's cross from the left went wide of the far post.

Dempsey could have made it 2-0 shortly before half-time but his diagonal effort from Jonathan Greening's assist took a deflection off a Roma defender.

However, Nevland's sending-off hurt Fulham and Roma almost levelled the score seconds later with Rodrigo Taddei's stinging drive from distance going over the bar.

Guperti then latched onto Taddei's cross from the left but headed wide from close range.

Rewarded

On the hour mark, Fulham goalkeeper Schwarzer made a stunning one-handed save to stop Guperti's left-footed strike from 15 yards out.

Roma were finally rewarded in the 68th minute, with John Arne Riise's left-footed strike from the edge of the area taking a deflection off his sibling and surprising Schwarzer.

The hosts went in front in the 76th minute with Okaka's close-range header from Taddei's cross beating Schwarzer.

Fulham went in search of the equaliser but it was Roma who looked more dangerous.

With five minutes remaining, Schwarzer was forced to dive to his right to save Okaka's acrobatic kick from the edge of the area.

Substitute Chris Baird had a good chance to make it 2-2 but his right-footed strike on target was cleared by Mexes as Roma held on for the win.

Fulham ended the game down to nine men after Konchesky was shown a straight red with seconds remaining following a foul on Taddei.

RomaTeam StatisticsFulham
2Goals1
01st Half Goals1
6Shots on Target2
12Shots off Target1
7Blocked Shots4
10Corners3
7Fouls22
6Offsides3
3Yellow Cards3
0Red Cards2
82.8Passing Success74.7
21Tackles22
76.2Tackles Success77.3
59.1Possession40.9
52.2Territorial Advantage47.8

Comments (4)

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Paul H (Liverpool fan) says...

What goes around, comes around. Have the Fulham fans forgot last saturday's events already ?

Posted 20:52 5th November 2009

Calum Secular (Fulham fan) says...

What was that reff doing! needless foul from Nevland i agree but never a red. changed the whole game thanks very much! all the fans that travelled over were brilliant! just hope Romas poor form will give us a chance to get through. and konch's red card was ridiculous! can someone please get a decent reff!!!!!!

Posted 20:30 5th November 2009

Tktd General (Fulham fan) says...

Tough - A little tough? What game where you watching?... Fulham have ben robbed twice by incompetent referring against a useless Roma side. We were down to 10 men for the whole 2nd half and they could only just find the two goals, whilst the Ref was actively seeking to give them as much help as possible. Might be worth looking into corruption in Italian clubs because something was not at all right. The Ref couldn't even see the challenge Nevland put in and had to move to the other side of the player blocking his sight, which was at the same time the player went down from the challenge. UEFA, FIFA really need to sort these issues out as Fulham should be at LEAST 2nd in our group and are now languishing in 3rd. It was absolutly shocking game and that ref at least should be dropped from refereeing these games. Absolute disgrace, and anyone who watched the game will know it was joke. Even John Arne Riise looked like he thought the Nevland sending off was a joke. Underhand corruption or something like that must be going on - there's no just way in the world, where those were Red Cards and if they're not then Fulham were in complete control and could've easily won. Absolute disgrace. We may be Fulham, we may be a small club by today's standards but that doesn't make it acceptable for decisions like these to go unnoticed. We've got a proud tradition and always do things by the rules. DO SOMETHING ABOUT IT!!!!

Posted 20:17 5th November 2009

Darren Johnston (Fulham fan) says...

we were robbed that ref should never see a football pitch again

Posted 20:09 5th November 2009
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