Roma 2-1 Fulham

Nine-man Fulham will blame a harsh red card for Erik Nevland for their Europa League Group E defeat by Roma.

Diomansy Kamara picked himself up from a Marco Andreolli foul to put Fulham ahead from the penalty spot.

But Nevland was sent off for a 49th minute tackle on Daniele de Rossi before John Arne Riise equalised with a shot that deflected off two players.

Stefano Okaka Chuka nodded in Roma's winner before Paul Konchesky was also red-carded for Fulham late on.

But it was the dismissal of Nevland that had changed the course of the game and, while Fulham had a measure of control beforehand, they were forced into a rearguard action after the dismissal.

Nevland had only been on the pitch for four minutes when he was sent back to the changing room for clipping De Rossi's heels with a sliding challenge.

606: DEBATE
What are your thoughts on the game?

Referee Kevin Blom's decision gave Roma the impetus to take the game to their opponents following a lacklustre performance up until that point.

Fulham had beaten Liverpool last Saturday and were a team high on confidence, while Roma showed the struggle for form their 14th place in Serie A indicated.

The difference in both teams was plain to see from the start as the visitors passed the ball around with an authority and threat which did not take long to materialise in a goal.

Zoltan Gera slid a pass into the Roma box for Clint Dempsey and he cut the ball back for Kamara, who was tripped by Marco Andreolli - the scorer of Roma's equaliser in the reverse fixture two weeks ago.

Kamara stroked home the spot-kick with the kind of calmness and composure that was epitomising Fulham's display as he sent keeper Doni the wrong way.

Roma briefly raised their game and Philippe Mexes should have levelled, only to steer a header wide from an invitingly whipped in Cicinho cross.

The home side were also denied what appeared a good shout for a penalty when a Mexes shot from a corner seemed to be blocked by the arm of defender John Pantsil.

But it was Fulham whose play carried the greater danger and Kamara, Dempsey and Gera were combining well in attack, with an assured looking defence behind them.

An unmarked Kamara headed wide at the far post before Dempsey angled a shot wide after being set up by Gera and Nevland's red card then proved decisive.

Marco Cassetti headed wide at the far post wide and Stefano Guberti had a left-foot shot tipped over for the home side.

And Fulham eventually buckled when John Arne Riise's shot took deflections off Gera and his brother Bjorn on the way past wrong-footed Cottagers keeper Mark Schwarzer.

Schwarzer was soon beaten again as, despite getting a hand to Okaka-Chuka's header, he could not stop it going in.

Fulham pushed centre-back Brede Hangeland up into attack late on but could not avoid defeat, with Konchesky's dismissal for a tackle on Taddei rubbing salt into their wounds.

The defeat leaves Fulham third behind leaders Basle and second-placed Roma in Group E with two games to go.

RELATED INTERNET LINKS:
Uefa
Fulham
AS Roma
The BBC is not responsible for the content of external internet sites