Just over ten years ago, London based side Fulham F.C, were playing in the third-tier of English Football but tonight, after a great run and some fantastic results, they were on the big stage; playing in the Europa League (formerly the UEFA Cup) Final against Spanish giants Atletico Madrid.
The final was held in Hamburg, Germany and the Spanish team were the firm favourites for the win. Fulham were given little chance on the exchanges, with prices higher than 3/1 for a Fulham win.
Atletico Madrid dominated the first half of the game and looked a constant threat to the Cottagers. They used this advantage to take an inevitable lead just after the half hour mark. Forlan was debatably offside when a shot-come-pass bounced his way but he wasted no time in tucking it away for the opener. Davis proved yet again that Fulham will not sit down though when he slammed in an equalizing volley five minutes later, sending the English contingent into a rapture.
Fulham picked up their game in the second half, subbing off an inured Zamora (who has been amazing in this campaign) for Clint Dempsey who became the first American to play in a major European competition. But the two teams became locked at 1-1 and despite a late threat from Ateltico, who took control of the game for an extended period, the two went into Extra-Time.
Forlan then worked his magic again to break the hearts of the Fulham fans with a deflected goal in the last five minutes of Extra-Time. A crushing end to a great campaign but Fulham will still remember this run proudly after being one of the rank outsiders for the competition – written off step after step – and still making it to the final.
