Fulham's battling performance went without reward as the nine men crashed to a 2-1 defeat by Roma in Europa League E.

Nevland and Konchesky sent off as Okaka header seals win for Italians

Fulham's battling performance at the Stadio Olimpico went without reward as the nine men crashed to a 2-1 defeat by Roma in Europa League E. The Premier League side held a half-time lead thanks to Diomansy Kamara's penalty, but the dismissal of Erik Nevland let Roma back into the contest. John Arne Riise levelled for the Italian giants, with a little help from his brother, and Stefano Okaka Chuka secured the win before Paul Konchesky was sent off late on. The Cottagers were in front after 19 minutes when Kamara fired home from the penalty spot after the Senegalese striker had been brought down by Marco Andreolli following Clint Dempsey's pass inside. Philippe Mexes was close to heading Roma level, and Dempsey then took too long to get his shot away, before the game turned in the hosts' favour four minutes after half-time. Nevland, who had only been introduced at the interval for the injured Kamara, was shown a straight red card following a needless challenge from behind on Daniele De Rossi, although the decision appeared harsh on the Norwegian striker. Roma slowly cranked up the pressure and equalised in fortunate circumstances on 69 minutes when John Arne Riise's 25-yard drive clipped one Fulham player before taking a decisive deflection off his brother Bjorn Helge to wrong-foot Mark Schwarzer. The winning goal then arrived on 76 minutes when Rodrigo Taddei fired in a cross from the right and Okaka headed home despite the best efforts of Schwarzer. The night finished on a further low note for Fulham when Paul Konchesky was shown a straight red card for a foul on Taddei, with the decision again appearing a little tough on Fulham.

Frenetic pace

After being forced to settle for a draw in the first game between the two sides in London, Roy Hodgson's team were determined to claim all three points in Rome. The game began at a frenetic pace as both sides attempted to impose their play. Fulham put a good move together in the eighth minute when Konchesky fed Bjorn Helge Riise inside the area but his right-footed shot was blocked by Mexes. At the other end, Aaron Hughes did well to clear Stefano Guberti's dangerous cross from the left. Fulham broke the deadlock in the 19th minute when Andreolli brought down Kamara, the striker sending Roma goalkeeper Alexander Doni the wrong way from the spot. Roma almost pulled level midway through the first half but Mexes' powerful header from Cicinho's cross from the right went inches wide of the far post. On the half-hour mark, Julio Baptista's acrobatic kick went wide as Roma pressed forward in search of an equaliser. In the 37th minute, Kamara had a golden chance to extend Fulham's lead but his powerful header from Konchesky's cross from the left went wide of the far post. Dempsey could have made it 2-0 shortly before half-time but his diagonal effort from Jonathan Greening's assist took a deflection off a Roma defender. However, Nevland's sending-off hurt Fulham and Roma almost levelled the score seconds later with Rodrigo Taddei's stinging drive from distance going over the bar. Guperti then latched onto Taddei's cross from the left but headed wide from close range.

Rewarded

On the hour mark, Fulham goalkeeper Schwarzer made a stunning one-handed save to stop Guperti's left-footed strike from 15 yards out. Roma were finally rewarded in the 68th minute, with John Arne Riise's left-