Fulham stretch unbeaten run to snatch victory from Dinamo Zagreb

Fulham 2

Steed Malbranque equalised in the 89th minute - and Luis Boa Morte fired home deep into injury time to clinch a surprise come-from-behind 2-1 win.

Fulham’s Sylvain Legwinski and Dinamo’s Jasmin Agic exchanged 20-yard drives in the early exchanges, with both attempts skidding wide off the sodden turf.

The visitors’ 400-strong band of supporters featured a significant number of London Croats - and their constant noise was fine support considering the 3-0 aggregate scoreline.

Dumitru Mitu, by far the Croats’ most dangerous player at the Stadion Maksimir a fortnight ago, unleashed a fine 30-yard drive 11 minutes before the break.

Van der Sar dived somewhat hesitantly and pushed the ball round his right-hand post.

But his reaction five minutes later was completely instinctive, racing from his goal line to dive bravely at Olic’s feet and end the visitors’ attack.

Sava missed a sitter from a yard out just before the break, stretching to meet Boa Morte’s drilled cross but making minimal contact with the ball.

The half-time scoreline between the Cottagers at Dinamo Zagreb at Loftus Road was 0-0, meaning Fulham’s 3-0 aggregate advantage left them in a seemingly-insurmountable position.

Dinamo went ahead out of the blue in the 51st minute. Mitu lofted a curling cross to the far post and Olic towered above Inamoto to plant a firm header just beyond van der Sar’s outstretched palm and into the bottom corner of his net.

Olic threatened again two minutes later but lost his cool after evading Andy Melville’s unsuccessful block tackle and blazed over from an acute angle.

FULHAM: Van der Sar, Finnan, Melville, Goma, Brevett, Goldbaek, Clark, Inamoto, Legwinski, Sava, Boa Morte.

DINAMO ZAGREB: Turina, Sedloski, Smoje, Cesar, Mikic, Kranjcar, Agic, Mitu, Krznar, Olic, Balaban. Subs: Butina, Mujcin, Zahora, Juric, Petrovic, Bosnjak, Drpic.

Referee: Laurent Duhamel (France).