Nobody will ever tire of talking about how Roy Hodgson’s heroes dumped Juventus out of the Europa League on one of the greatest Craven Cottage nights of all fifteen years ago today. Dan’s match report still stands the test of time pretty well, all these years on, I reckon.
Dickson Etuhu’s away goal in Turin proved more pivotal than anyone could have imagined, but any thoughts of a fightback seemed fanciful when David Trezeguet fired the Italian giants ahead after only three minutes. The Whites could have been forgiven for thinking they were down and out, but nobody told Bobby Zamora. In front of England manager Fabio Capello, Zamora utterly terrorised Fabio Cannavaro.
He left the centre half on the floor when he headed in a floated Paul Konchesky cross and Azzuri skipper eventually saw red for tugging back Zoltan Gera after another sublime bit of Zamora skill. The Fulham forward was only denied his second by a sensational save from Juve’s 39 year-old third-choice goalkeeper Antonio Chimenti. Simon Davies and Dickson Etuhu rattled the woodwork before the break to leave the home fans cursing their misfortune, but a well-worked move down the left flank culminated in Gera swept home Davies’ low cross to put Hodgson’s men in front on the night.
Gera then slammed home a spot-kick three minutes in the second half after a handball by Diego, but Fulham’s push for the clinching fourth was thwarted by Chimenti smothering a Zamora effort. Hodgson sent on Clint Dempsey for Steven Kelly and the rest is history. Dempsey’s magnificent chip – which he definitely meant, by the way – and the wild celebrations that followed were incredible. What a night.
Do feel free to share your memories in the comments
I can still remember Deuce’s chip taking an eternity to arc into the net. Then the final whistle taking an age, because we’d have been out had we conceded a second, and they still looked good even with 10 on the field.
I thought that Trezeguet’s opener at the Cottage had put it beyond reach but Sir Roy got the lads to turn in a performance for the ages.
If you’d told me when I started supporting Fulham that one day we’d be playing La Vecchia Signora, for points, not a friendly, and beat them over 2 legs, I’d have told you to either put down the drink or to pour me a double.
I always thought that the Cannavaro sending off was very soft. He was one of the world’s top CBs at the time and one of my all time greats. His red definitely changed the game.
The highlights of this tie (both legs watched together) is one of my things to cheer me up when all is going to diddly. Although GJ completely losing it when we beat Hounslow FC in November is now also on that list.