Last-gasp Andreolli strike denies Fulham

MARCO ANDREOLLI struck a 94th-minute equaliser to earn Roma a draw amid dramatic scenes in last night’s Europa League Group E clash with Fulham at Craven Cottage.

Fulham appeared to have completed a deserved victory after Mark Schwarzer saved a farcical penalty, awarded when John Arne Riise went tumbling beneath a tame challenge from Stephen Kelly.

Referee Paul Allaerts initially sent off the wrong player, brandishing the red card at Brede Hangeland, before being surrounded by a crowd of angry home players.

The official eventually relented, dismissing Kelly instead, and Fulham thought they had escaped when Jeremy Menez was denied by a brilliant save from Schwarzer. But Andreolli stole in unmarked at the far post and lashed home from six yards out with the last kick of the game. Earlier Hangeland had struck his second goal for the club when he headed home a corner by Bjorn Helge Riise, though Fulham’s superiority deserved at least another goal.

Fulham boss Roy Hodgson couldn’t hide his frustration. He said: “I thought the effort was magnificent, and it was cruel.’’

FULHAM: Schwarzer, Kelly, Hangeland, Hughes, Konchesky (Pantsil 46), Riise (Duff 75), Greening, Baird, Gera, Zamora (Nevland 61), Kamara.

ROMA: Doni, Burdisso, Mexes, Andreolli, Riise, Taddei (Vucinic 63), Brighi (Pizarro 47), De Rossi, Guberti, Okaka Chuka (Perrotta 47), Menez.

Referee: P Allaerts (Belgium).