Friday Fulham Stuff (02/04/10)

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http://www.uefa.com/uefaeuropaleague/matches/season=2010/round=2000040/match=2000955/postmatch/quotes/index.html
Dempsey fears Wolfsburg got off hook
Published: Thursday 1 April 2010, 23.20CET
Clint Dempsey felt Fulham FC could have won their quarter-final first leg against VfL Wolfsburg by three clear goals but goalkeeper Mark Schwarzer said: "You have to be happy with a 2-1 lead."

Until the last minute of Fulham FC's UEFA Europa League quarter-final first leg against VfL Wolfsburg it seemed that the home side would have a 2-0 lead to take to Germany next Thursday – only for a last-minute away goal to open up the tie and leave winger Clint Dempsey frustrated.

Bobby Zamora and Damien Duff had both scored for Fulham in the space of four second-half minutes as the game came alive after the break, but in the last ten minutes Wolfsburg pushed hard and were rewarded in the nick of time by Alexander Madlung's headed goal. Dempsey, who struck late himself a fortnight ago to complete a memorable comeback to eliminate Juventus, felt Fulham deserved a bigger advantage.

"I thought we dominated both halves," Dempsey said. "We had most of the possession and took the game more to them than they took it to us. We could have possibly won 3-0 if a few shots had gone our way. I had a shot that was going far post but was deflected that looked like it was going to go in. Zoltán [Gera] had a good chance that was deflected. We were more dangerous throughout the game and I thought the better team won."

On the other hand, goalkeeper Mark Schwarzer looked at the positives from Fulham's defeat of their fellow first-time quarter-finalists. "You take everything into consideration – they are the current German champions, they have scored a hell of a lot of goals this season, you have got to be happy with a 2-1 lead," he said.

That Fulham have the advantage is thanks in no small part to Zamora, who missed training through illness on Wednesday, but was able to start and not only scored but set up the second for Duff, who had himself helped create the opener. Zamora said: "Damien made a great run up the outside and took the defenders away for me. He's a great player and an intelligent player, he knew what he was doing. And it was nice to return the favour."

Obafemi Martins, who came off the bench for Wolfsburg at two down, had a familiar feeling having lost 2-1 on two of his three visits to Craven Cottage with former club Newcastle United FC. "Fulham have a good team and they really played well today," the striker said. "But at the same time, luckily we got the goal which makes a big difference. I tried my best but the goalkeeper saved my shot. We have to see what happens when they come to Wolfsburg."

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http://www.dailymail.co.uk/sport/football/article-1262943/Edin-Dzeko-tantilises-the dark side-Manchester-City-opening-door-to-England.html
Edin Dzeko tantilises the dark side and Manchester City by opening door to move to England

the dark side and Manchester City target Edin Dzeko says he is open to a move to England despite AC Milan being his preferred option.

Wolfsburg’s £25m-rated striker Dzeko said: ‘I never said that I absolutely want Italy. If the right offer comes in then I will say yes.’

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http://www.eatsleepsport.com/fulham/late-goal-no-problem-for-hodgson-1045820.html
Late goal no problem for Hodgson
Roy Hodgson believes Fulham will reach the Europa League semi-finals, despite Wolfsburg's late away goal in their 2-1 first leg win.

The Cottagers looked on course to take a two-goal advantage to Germany next Thursday after second half goals from Bobby Zamora and Damien Duff at Craven Cottage. However Wolfsburg got a crucial late goal from Alexander Madlung which means they could progress with a 1-0 win over the Londoners in the second leg.

Despite conceding a goal, Hodgson was impressed with the way his side performed on the night and still feels they have an excellent chance of reaching the last four of the tournament.

"I don't know if we are favourites; we relinquished the chance to be favourites at 2-1," he said.

"We go there with the lead and we need a draw or a victory. And we did enough to show we can cause them plenty of problems when we attack.

"I thought we played very well and were close, at the end of the game, to a famous 2-0 victory.

"The late goal, I suppose to some extent, has put a slight dampener on the performance but it shouldn't really because if before you offered me a victory in the game and to play well I would have accepted any score so I am not going to allow a last minute goal to dampen my enthusiasm for the game, and my belief in the players and the desire to work hard and deny the German champions."