Fulham 2 Shakter Donetsk 1:BOBBY ZAMORA'S 63rd-minute strike grabbed a victory which may just provide Fulham a path into the Europa League last 16.
Almost instantly from kick-off Danny Murphy’s diagonal into the Donetsk area was headed at Andriy Pyatov by Brede Hangeland, forcing the goalkeeper to steer it over. The ensuing corner again found the central defender, which was cleared, but within three minutes Fulham had the lead.
From a throw-in Murphy again collected and played a reverse ball into Zamora, who was lurking on the edge of visitor’s area. His instant touch turned it on to Gera whose sliding finish rolled underneath Pyatov to put Fulham ahead.
This provoked the home crowd to enquire of the reigning champions, “Who are you?”, but enough Shakhtar possession and threat ensued to offer an answer which had their team twisting on its heels.
The visitors fielded an all-Brazilian front-five. And, as the game approached the quarter hour, Fernandinho, a 24-year-old midfielder from Londrina, robbed Hangeland and his delivery from the right came skimming over the turf and required the intervention of Aaron Hughes.
Shakhtar’s equaliser derived from a move which broke Fulham’s offside trap. Ilsinho, who had drifted inside from his wide right berth, played a weighted ball beyond Hughes to Adriano, Donesk’s lone striker. He persuaded Mark Schwarzer to commit himself by going to ground early, before finishing calmly in the 32nd minute.
Fulham stepped the pace up after the break and were rewarded when, after Gera’s delightful heeled pass found Zamora, the striker looked up and fired a 25-yard belt beyond Pyatov, via the bar.
FULHAM: Schwarzer, Baird, Hughes, Hangeland, Kelly, Davies, Etuhu, Murphy, Duff, Gera (Elm 89), Zamora. Subs not nsed: Zuberbuhler, Nevland, Riise, Smalling, Greening, Marsh-Brown. Booked: Murphy.
SHAKHTAR DONETSK: Pyatov, Srna, Kucher, Rakitskiy, Rat, Ilsinho, Hubschman (Kravchenko 78), Fernandinho, Willian, Jadson (Douglas Costa 75), Luiz Adriano.
Subs not nsed: Khudzamov, Lewandowski, Gai, Gladkyy, Ischenko. Booked: Luiz Adriano, Srna.
Referee: Serge Gumienny (Belgium).
