Gera pounces to send Fulham through to the Europa League final on 12 May
By Phil McNulty
Chief football writer at Craven Cottage
Fulham made history at an ecstatic Craven Cottage as they came from behind to beat Hamburg and reach the Europa League final, where they will face Atletico Madrid.
Roy Hodgson's dream of leading Fulham to their first European final after an epic campaign looked in jeopardy as Mladen Petric's spectacular first-half free-kick put Hamburg on course for victory.
Hamburg, fuelled by the knowledge that the final would be played in their own Nordbank Arena, were in control for an hour - but as they have done before in their European adventure, Fulham responded magnificently to eventually overpower the Germans.
Fulham survived the loss of top scorer Bobby Zamora, clearly still suffering from an Achilles injury, early in the second half to overcome the odds again.
Simon Davies' instinctive turn and finish after 69 minutes gave the Cottagers the first of the two goals they needed, and Zoltan Gera pounced from close range seven minutes later to cap another memorable night on the banks of the Thames.
And as Fulham's players took a lap of honour at the final whistle Hodgson, the man who has orchestrated the resurrection of this famous old club from the brink of relegation to the Championship into a European final, strolled calmly towards the dressing room with his hands in his pockets, stopping only to console Hamburg's beaten players.
The calm and composed manner in which Fulham went about their work was in the image of their manager, who is the perfect advert for sound footballing common sense. And the man who appointed him, Fulham owner Mohamed Al Fayed, also took his share of the glory as he strode off waving his scarf.
Fulham never lost hope in the face of Hamburg's early superiority, maintaining the self-belief that has seen them dispose of the likes of Juventus and Wolfsburg on the way to the showpiece in Hamburg on 12 May.
The scale of the achievement is a tribute to the work of Hodgson and his players - and given the compelling performances they have produced in the Europa League, they will travel to the final with genuine ambitions of lifting the trophy.
Fulham were able to call on striker Zamora after he had an injection in the Achilles injury that threatened to sideline him - and he almost provided a packed Craven Cottage with the start the fans desired after only two minutes.
He exchanged passes with Gera and looked to have a clear opening, but Hamburg keeper Frank Rost was swiftly out at Zamora's feet and scrambled the ball away for a corner.
Fulham were struggling to settle with an expectant crowd roaring them on and it was the visitors, with Ricardo Moniz in charge until the end of the season after coach Bruno Labbadia was sacked after their 5-1 weekend defeat at Hoffenheim, who took control.
And the dominance they exerted was rewarded when Petric produced a moment of brilliance to give them a crucial away goal after 22 minutes. Fulham captain Danny Murphy was penalised for fouling Ze Roberto, and keeper Mark Schwarzer was static as Petric's free-kick flashed high past him from 25 yards.
The goal understandably dented Fulham's confidence, and it was Hamburg who came closest to adding a second before the interval when Jonathan Petroipa sent a low, angled drive narrowly wide at Schwarzer's near post.
Zamora had struggled manfully, despite obviously being less than fully fit, and it was no surprise when he was replaced by Clint Dempsey just before the hour. The talisman of Fulham's Europa League run was given a deserved standing ovation as he limped away.
Mladen Petric's explosive free-kick had Hamburg ahead at the break
The London side were starting to get desperate in their search for a breakthrough, but it almost came after 62 minutes when Damien Duff turned Paul Konchesky's free-kick agonisingly wide with Rost scrambling across his goal.
Davies handed Fulham the lifeline they needed with 21 minutes left, taking Murphy's pass and turning past Guy Demel inside the area before beating Rost to send Craven Cottage into delirium.
And another magnificent Fulham fightback was in sight as Hamburg, suddenly unsettled after a night of relative calm, faltered in the face of Hodgson's revived side. Davies' corner bounced off Demel and Gera was first to react and slam home from close range.
Hamburg, stunned by Fulham's recovery, never looked like forcing their way back into the game - and Turkish referee Cuneyt Cakir's final whistle signalled the start of celebrations that would surely carry on long into the night.
However, with Fulham's place already secure, any hopes of an all-English final were dashed as Atletico overcame Liverpool on away goals after extra time.
90:00+3:43 The game is over, as the referee blows his whistle.
90:00+2:53 Booking Clinton Dempsey goes into the book for dissent.
90:00+2:19 Danny Murphy takes the direct free kick.
90:00+2:19 Booking Frank Rost booked for unsporting behaviour.
90:00+2:11 Free kick awarded for an unfair challenge on Clinton Dempsey by Frank Rost.
90:00+1:29 Ruud van Nistelrooy sends in a cross.
90:00+0:36 Substitution David Rozehnal replaces David Jarolim.
88:54 Free kick awarded for an unfair challenge on David Jarolim by Danny Murphy. Joris Mathijsen restarts play with the free kick.
88:19 Free kick awarded for an unfair challenge on Aaron Hughes by Mladen Petric. Mark Schwarzer takes the free kick.
85:15 The ball is sent over by Paolo Guerrero, save by Mark Schwarzer.
Correction - 83:24 The assistant referee flags for offside against Paul Konchesky. Indirect free kick taken by Jerome Boateng.
83:24 Paul Konchesky is caught offside. Frank Rost takes the indirect free kick.
80:17 Zoltan Gera fouled by Jonathan Pitroipa, the ref awards a free kick. Danny Murphy takes the free kick.
80:10 The assistant referee signals for offside against Paolo Guerrero. Mark Schwarzer takes the indirect free kick.
79:42 Dennis Aogo takes a shot. Simon Davies gets a block in.
78:58 Substitution (Hamburg) makes a substitution, with Paolo Guerrero coming on for Tomas Rincon.
78:29 Jonathan Pitroipa crosses the ball, Tomas Rincon gives away a free kick for an unfair challenge on Paul Konchesky. Free kick
taken by Mark Schwarzer.
77:42 Foul by Zoltan Gera on Tomas Rincon, free kick awarded. Guy Demel restarts play with the free kick.
75:14 GOAL - Zoltan Gera:Fulham 2 - 1 Hamburg Zoltan Gera finds the back of the net with a goal from close in low into the middle of the goal. Fulham 2 (2)-(1) 1 Hamburg.
74:55 Outswinging corner taken right-footed by Simon Davies from the right by-line,
74:07 Substitution Erik Nevland on for John Pantsil.
73:53 Jonathan Pitroipa produces a right-footed shot from deep inside the penalty area which goes wide of the left-hand post.
72:39 Paul Konchesky produces a cross, save by Frank Rost.
71:58 Foul by Jonathan Pitroipa on John Pantsil, free kick awarded. John Pantsil takes the direct free kick.
70:52 Outswinging corner taken left-footed by Dennis Aogo from the left by-line, Headed effort from deep inside the area by Joris
Mathijsen misses to the right of the goal.
68:56 Assist by Danny Murphy.
68:56 GOAL - Simon Davies:Fulham 1 - 1 Hamburg Simon Davies fires in a goal from inside the six-yard box to the bottom right corner of the goal. Fulham 1 (1)-(1) 1 Hamburg.
66:32 Corner from the right by-line taken by Dennis Aogo, Brede Hangeland manages to make a clearance.
66:16 David Jarolim takes a shot. Save made by Mark Schwarzer.
65:12 The official flags Ruud van Nistelrooy offside. Indirect free kick taken by Paul Konchesky.
64:16 Booking Brede Hangeland shown a yellow card.
64:05 Free kick awarded for an unfair challenge on Mladen Petric by Brede Hangeland. Joris Mathijsen takes the free kick.
63:46 Foul by Ruud van Nistelrooy on Danny Murphy, free kick awarded. Free kick taken by Danny Murphy.
61:42 Paul Konchesky delivers the ball, Damien Duff has an effort at goal from deep inside the area missing to the right of the
goal.
61:42 Booking Jerome Boateng goes into the book.
61:24 Jerome Boateng challenges Zoltan Gera unfairly and gives away a free kick.
60:05 The ball is delivered by Simon Davies, David Jarolim makes a clearance.
59:38 Clinton Dempsey takes a shot. Joris Mathijsen gets a block in.
59:17 Free kick awarded for an unfair challenge on Damien Duff by Tomas Rincon. Free kick taken by Mark Schwarzer.
57:47 Outswinging corner taken right-footed by Simon Davies from the right by-line, Paul Konchesky takes a shot. Blocked by Joris
Mathijsen.
56:49 Substitution Clinton Dempsey joins the action as a substitute, replacing Bobby Zamora.
56:49 The referee blows for offside. Free kick taken by Frank Rost.
55:25 Substitution Tomas Rincon joins the action as a substitute, replacing Robert Tesche.
53:30 David Jarolim crosses the ball, clearance made by Brede Hangeland.
51:16 Outswinging corner taken from the left by-line by Dennis Aogo, Joris Mathijsen takes a shot. Blocked by Brede Hangeland.
51:10 A cross is delivered by Dennis Aogo, John Pantsil makes a clearance.
50:24 Aaron Hughes challenges Ruud van Nistelrooy unfairly and gives away a free kick. Direct free kick taken by David Jarolim.
50:01 David Jarolim fouled by Bobby Zamora, the ref awards a free kick. Jerome Boateng takes the direct free kick.
49:41 Ruud van Nistelrooy challenges Brede Hangeland unfairly and gives away a free kick. Free kick taken by Paul Konchesky.
48:13 The referee blows for offside. Indirect free kick taken by Frank Rost.
46:23 Jerome Boateng concedes a free kick for a foul on Bobby Zamora. Free kick crossed right-footed by Danny Murphy from left channel.
45:01 The referee gets the second half underway.
Half Time
45:00+0:18 The ref blows to signal half-time.
44:27 Foul by Dickson Etuhu on Jose Ze Roberto, free kick awarded. David Jarolim takes the free kick.
43:48 The offside flag is raised against Bobby Zamora. Indirect free kick taken by Frank Rost.
41:29 Jose Ze Roberto is adjudged to have handled the ball. Danny Murphy takes the direct free kick.
40:49 Outswinging corner taken right-footed by Simon Davies from the right by-line to the near post, Joris Mathijsen makes a clearance.
40:41 Paul Konchesky produces a cross.
39:13 Jonathan Pitroipa fouled by John Pantsil, the ref awards a free kick. Dennis Aogo takes the free kick.
38:27 Shot from just outside the box by Jonathan Pitroipa misses to the left of the target.
37:16 Jonathan Pitroipa is caught offside. Indirect free kick taken by Mark Schwarzer.
36:40 Bobby Zamora concedes a free kick for a foul on Guy Demel. Direct free kick taken by Jerome Boateng.
35:56 The ball is crossed by Dickson Etuhu.
34:13 Outswinging corner taken from the left by-line by Damien Duff.
32:01 Simon Davies fouled by Guy Demel, the ref awards a free kick. Simon Davies shoots direct from the free kick.
31:20 Zoltan Gera crosses the ball, Robert Tesche makes a clearance.
30:16 Jose Ze Roberto gives away a free kick for an unfair challenge on Damien Duff. Damien Duff delivers the ball from the free
kick left-footed from right wing, clearance made by Jerome Boateng.
30:02 Unfair challenge on Danny Murphy by Jose Ze Roberto results in a free kick. Free kick taken by Danny Murphy.
29:48 Free kick awarded for an unfair challenge on Damien Duff by David Jarolim. John Pantsil takes the free kick.
28:57 The assistant referee signals for offside against Bobby Zamora. Jerome Boateng takes the free kick.
28:35 The ball is swung over by Jonathan Pitroipa, save by Mark Schwarzer.
25:06 Frank Rost fouled by Bobby Zamora, the ref awards a free kick. Frank Rost takes the free kick.
23:48 Free kick awarded for an unfair challenge on Damien Duff by Jose Ze Roberto. Aaron Hughes restarts play with the free kick.
22:49 Ruud van Nistelrooy gives away a free kick for an unfair challenge on Danny Murphy. Direct free kick taken by Danny Murphy.
21:31 GOAL - Mladen Petric:Fulham 0 - 1 Hamburg Mladen Petric finds the net with a goal direct from the free kick from long distance to the top left corner of the goal. Fulham
0 (0)-(1) 1 Hamburg.
20:43 Foul by Danny Murphy on Jose Ze Roberto, free kick awarded.
20:00 Jerome Boateng fouled by Bobby Zamora, the ref awards a free kick. Frank Rost takes the direct free kick.
18:49 Brede Hangeland concedes a free kick for a foul on Ruud van Nistelrooy. Direct free kick taken by David Jarolim.
16:57 Outswinging corner taken left-footed by Dennis Aogo.
16:50 Jonathan Pitroipa crosses the ball, clearance made by Danny Murphy.
16:00 Bobby Zamora concedes a free kick for a foul on Jerome Boateng. Direct free kick taken by Jerome Boateng.
13:16 Inswinging corner taken by Dennis Aogo from the right by-line played to the near post, clearance made by Zoltan Gera.
11:47 Effort from outside the box by Damien Duff goes wide right of the target.
10:36 Jonathan Pitroipa concedes a free kick for a foul on John Pantsil. Mark Schwarzer takes the free kick.
10:22 The ball is crossed by Dennis Aogo, Aaron Hughes makes a clearance.
9:15 Free kick awarded for an unfair challenge on Jonathan Pitroipa by Danny Murphy. Free kick crossed left-footed by Dennis Aogo,
clearance made by Paul Konchesky.
8:42 The ball is crossed by Guy Demel, Aaron Hughes makes a clearance.
7:30 Corner taken left-footed by Dennis Aogo from the left by-line to the near post, clearance made by Dickson Etuhu.
6:21 Corner taken right-footed by Simon Davies from the right by-line, Header on goal by Brede Hangeland from inside the box goes
harmlessly over the target.
2:17 Outswinging corner taken by Damien Duff from the left by-line, Header from deep inside the penalty area by Brede Hangeland
goes harmlessly over the crossbar.
2:01 Bobby Zamora takes a shot. Save made by Frank Rost.
0:26 Ruud van Nistelrooy takes a shot. Brede Hangeland gets a block in.
0:00 The ref blows the whistle to begin the match.
Live text and data provided by The Press Association.
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