Filed under: Fulham, Europa League (UEFA), Football, Match Reports
Fulham had to settle for a point in their opening group-stage Europa League clash against Dutch team FC Twente at Craven Cottage.Bryan Ruiz was ineligible against the club he left last month and Bobby Zamora was on the bench, but Fulham manager Martin Jol still had firepower in attack and took the lead in the 19th minute.
Twente full-back Dwight Tiendalli played the ball across his own defence and Andrew Johnson carried the ball into the penalty and chipped the goalkeeper with his finish.
The visitors, however, started creating chances and they were level with four minutes remaining in the first half. Robert Rosales' cross was flicked on and Luuk de Jong's header went in off the post and Mark Schwarzer's back.
THE GOALS
19 mins: Johnson opens the scoring, latching onto Tiendalli's backpass and chipping the goalkeeper. (1-0)
41 mins: Rosales' cross from the right gets flicked on and De Jong's header goes in off the post and Schwarzer's back (1-1).
OTHER HIGHLIGHTS
9 mins: Ola John cuts in from the left and his curling shot is saved by Schwarzer.
14 mins: Moussa Dembele feeds Clint Dempsey the ball and he forces a save with a low drive.
30 mins: Danny Murphy is found at the far post but his header goes wide.
31 mins: De Jong's header is saved by Schwarzer.
37 mins: Willem Janssen's drive is saved by Schwarzer.
53 mins: Dempsey meets a cross with a header but his effort bounces just wide.
63 mins: Dempsey has a shot parried by the goalkeeper.
69 mins: Steve Sidwell meets a cross but his header flashes over.
REACTION
Fulham manager Jol felt his side should have taken advantage of their first-half pressure:
"I felt you cannot do more than we did in the first half, we pressed them at the right time and scored a goal from it. The second half was difficult because we were trying to force the issue and they could hit us on the break.
On failing to win in the last five games:
"It's the same story, we had it against Aston Villa and Blackburn. I cannot blame anyone because they did well but we had to put in a lot of energy and that is the disappointing thing with Manchester City coming up."
On the equaliser:
"It was not poor defending. Steve Sidwell tried to do his best. He tried to head the ball and Brede was behind him. It was a bit of unlucky goal."
Twente manager Co Adriaanse felt his team could have won:
"If you look at the course of the game Fulham played well and had phases in the first and second half when they applied pressure. We continued to play football and created chances ourselves and perhaps could have said we could have won."
On the opening goal:
"The goal was a result of our own mistake and it was a mental blow because it meant you are forced to score yourself. Our goal we scored was executed well and I was pleased with that.
On Fulham:
"Jol's substitutions meant they were playing the same team as their last game when they were at their strongest, and in this periods our goalkeeper saved us."
WHAT IT MEANS
There is still plenty to play for in the group but Fulham have now not won in five games and need to kick-start their season. It will be tricky for them at the weekend as they face Manchester City.
FULHAM 1 (Johnson 19) FC TWENTE 1 (Schwarzer og 41)
PLAYER MARKING
Fulham (4-4-2): Schwarzer 6; Grygera 6, Hangeland 7, Baird 7, Briggs 7 (Senderos 81); Kasami 6, Sidwell 6, Murphy 7, Dempsey 8; Dembele 7, Johnson 8 (Zamora 66, 7).
Subs (not used): Etheridge, Kelly, Sa, Gecov, Duff.
FC Twente (4-1-4-1): Mihaylov 7; Cornelisse 6, Douglas 7, Wisgerhof 7, Tiendalli 4; Brama 6; Rosales 7, Janssen 7 (Landzaat 83), Fer 6, John 7 (Bajrami 68, 6); De Jong 7.
Subs (not used): Boschker, Bengtsson, Berghuis, Leugers, Janko.
REFEREE: Antonio Damato (Italy)
ATTENDANCE: 14,110
NEXT UP:
- Fulham v Manchester City (home), Premier League, 18/09, 1500 BST
MAN OF THE MATCH:
Clint Dempsey (Fulham): Involved in almost all of Fulham's attacks apart from the goal. Was desperately unlucky not to add a goal to a his box-to-box performance.
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Source: http://www.fanhouse.co.uk/2011/09/15/fulham-1-fc-twente-1-spoils-shared-as-martin-jols-side-let-lea/
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