Simon Davies and Zoltan Gera sensationally sent Fulham into the Europa League final after a 2-1 semi-final victory over Hamburg.

Hodgson's heroes add another chapter to story of spectacle

Simon Davies and Zoltan Gera sensationally sent Fulham into the Europa League final as a 2-1 semi-final second-leg victory over Hamburg at Craven Cottage allowed their memorable continental adventure to continue. After a 0-0 draw in Germany last week, the Premier League side welcomed their Bundesliga opponents to the banks of The Thames as slight favourites to progress. But any optimism of reaching the final, which will be against Liverpool's conquerors, Atletico Madrid, and will take place at Hamburg's Nordbank Arena on 12th May, was rattled in the 22nd minute as Mladen Petric fired a superb away goal from a 30-yard free-kick. However, fans on Craven Cottage's Hammersmith End had not given up hope and spent the second half willing the ball in their direction, with famous nights against Shakhtar Donetsk, Juventus and Wolfsburg fresh in the mind. Fittingly it was a pass from Danny Murphy, who had described the continental campaign as a 'special adventure' earlier in the week, that allowed Simon Davies to superbly equalise in the 69th minute. Roy Hodgson's Fulham were then swarming their visitors and only had to wait seven minutes for the decisive goal as Zoltan Gera turned at a corner to certainly outshine the achievements of the club's 1975 FA Cup finalists. The Cottagers' fairytale run started way back in July last year with a third-qualifying round tie against FK Vetra of Lithuania. Hodgson has also managed to keep Fulham on track in the Premier League, currently safe in 12th place - a remarkable achievement given the relative resources available to the West London club, so often in the shadow of their illustrious neighbours. Striker Bobby Zamora, who had been given a pain-killing injection in his troublesome Achilles to be fit to start, had a half-chance during the opening minutes after a one-two with Gera.

Dangerous

However, Hamburg goalkeeper Frank Rost stood up well, before Fulham's 19-goal striker scuffed the rebound wide. Brede Hangeland headed over as the home side continued to press. Hamburg, though, looked dangerous on the break, led by former Manchester United striker Ruud van Nistelrooy, as the Germans played with more freedom than in the first leg - now under the guidance of former Tottenham skills coach Ricardo Moniz after Bruno Labbadia was sacked. John Pantsil and then Aaron Hughes both made a timely block as the visitors looked to swing more dangerous balls into the Fulham box. There was, though, little anyone could do to prevent Hamburg taking the lead on 22 minutes. Danny Murphy fouled Jose Ze Roberto some 30 yards out, and Petric, whose goal at Wembley in the final match of the Euro 2008 qualifying campaign ended Steve McClaren's reign as England boss, stepped up to crash a glorious left-foot curling free-kick past Mark Schwarzer and into the top corner to give the Germans a crucial away goal. The home fans were temporarily stunned into silence, Schwarzer also looked shocked, but they soon roared their team back on to the offensive. Dennis Agogo made a timely clearance and Zamora was coming in for special attention from Hamburg's defence, who bundled him off the ball at every turn.

Menace

The pace of Pitroipa was proving a menace with the Burkina Faso winger breaking free and driving a powerful shot narrowly wide of the left post. Fulham were open to the counter-attack