Roy Hodgson's Fulham kept their Europa League dreams alive with a vital 1-0 victory over CSKA Sofia at Craven Cottage.
Gera seals vital win to keep Fulham's hopes alive in Europa League
Fulham kept their Europa League dreams alive with a narrow 1-0 victory over CSKA Sofia at Craven Cottage.
Todor Timonov hit the crossbar for the visitors with a long-range effort on five minutes before Zoltan Gera won a penalty for the Cottagers soon afterwards having being felled by Ivan Ivanov in the box.
But Danny Murphy, on his return from six weeks out with a knee injury, skied the resulting spot kick well over.
However, Gera put the Cottagers ahead after 14 minutes when nodding home from Bjorn Helge Riise's cross from the right.
In the second period, CSKA came far more into the game and substitute Damien Duff had to clear fellow substitute Kosta Yanev's shot off the line with 10 minutes to play.
Yanez then headed just wide with five minutes to go as the Cottagers held on for the vital win.
It means Roy Hodgson's side must win in Basel on 16th December in their last group game to progress into the last 32.
Nearly missed
CSKA only had coach Luboslav Penev in the dugout for the second half after he nearly missed the trip altogether.
Penev was named on the team sheet for the visitors after making the late trip to London when a ban on him leaving Bulgaria, for a debt owed, was lifted.
His side struck the crossbar early on but only genuinely threatened when he emerged in the second half, although his side ultimately have only one point from their five matches in the group.
That early chance came when Timonov latched onto a loose clearance and got his shot away before John Pantsil arrived with the challenge, with the ball rebounding to safety after smacking the crossbar.
Then came Murphy's ninth minute penalty when Gera was fouled by Ivanov, an offence so blatant there was no need for the extra official behind the goal that have been trialled in this competition.
After his time on the sidelines, Murphy's ring-rusty spot-kick was sidefooted over the crossbar.
The hosts, however, were ahead in the 14th minute when Riise won a 50-50 ball after a corner was cleared, he dashed down the right flank and crossed for Gera to nod home from close range.
Bobby Zamora, also back in the side after a knock ruled him out last weekend, could have doubled the lead but volleyed over after Gera nodded in his direction on the edge of the area.
Fulham were cutting through the CSKA defence every time they gained possession, with Christopher Smalling heading over from a corner, Riise failing to direct a shot from a promising position and Simon Davies dragging wide after Zamora had headed in his path.
The only thing that knocked the hosts off their stride was the elbow of Viktors Morozs, which connected unintentionally with Gera's face as the pair went for the ball and earned the midfielder a yellow card.
Second period
Hodgson took off Brede Hangeland at the break and replaced him with Aaron Hughes, giving his two first-choice centre-backs a half each ahead of Sunday's Premier League clash against Sunderland.
With Penev in the dugout for the second half, Michel was brought on and set up a chance for Yanchev, with Stephen Kelly required to race back and make a tackle in the six-yard area.
Spas Delev then missed an opportunity to make Fulham pay for their first-half wastefulness but he went just wide after meeting a cross with a volley.
Riise went over in the penalty area before the end but it was right in front of the extra official - and quite rightly there was no spot-kick awarded this time.
Duff came on and was needed to clear off the line when Yanev got his shot through a ruck of players. CSKA felt they should have had a penalty for a Kelly handball just before the effort but it appeared ball to hand.
Yanev then headed wide late on but Hodgson's side held on make it win-or-bust in Basel.
| Fulham |
Team Statistics |
CSKA Sofia |
| 1 |
Goals |
0 |
| 1 |
1st Half Goals |
0 |
| 3 |
Shots on Target |
2 |
| 8 |
Shots off Target |
9 |
| 1 |
Blocked Shots |
3 |
| 7 |
Corners |
7 |
| 10 |
Fouls |
16 |
| 3 |
Offsides |
1 |
| 2 |
Yellow Cards |
3 |
| 0 |
Red Cards |
0 |
| 78.2 |
Passing Success |
74.6 |
| 25 |
Tackles |
19 |
| 84 |
Tackles Success |
73.7 |
| 53.1 |
Possession |
46.9 |
| 55.3 |
Territorial Advantage |
44.7 |
|
