Fulham's Euro adventure ends - match report

Fulham’s 14-game European odyssey is over after Hertha Berlin produced a sterling backs-to-the-wall performance to claim a goalless draw at Loftus Road tonight.

The Cottagers began their Intertoto Cup campaign just six days after the World Cup final – but after victory in that competition and three rounds of UEFA Cup action, they bowed out 2-1 on aggregate against the Germans.

Fulham claimed the scalps of Croatian sides Hajduk Split and Dinamo Zagreb but were made to pay for Luis Boa Morte’s astonishing miss tonight.

The woodwork took a battering in a thrill-a-minute first half, with Alain Goma clipping the bar with a glancing header and Boa Morte producing a candidate for miss of the season when he hit the outside of the post from six yards.

Hertha goalkeeper Gabor Kiraly also almost threw Sean Davis’ shot into the back of his net – but it was not all Fulham as Berlin’s Brazilian ace Marcelinho hit the post with a corner-kick.

There was far less action in the second half as Fulham and their capacity crowd, despite the 5pm kick-off for German television, became increasingly frantic.

Chances were few and far despite Fulham piling forwards at every opportunity and in the end, they were made to pay for Boa Morte’s glaring miss.

Steve Marlet, at the centre of controversy over the payment of his £11.5million transfer fee from Lyon, was Fulham’s star man in the first half but faded badly after the interval.

The home side had been forced to field second-choice keeper Maik Taylor after Edwin van der Sar pulled out with flu.

The big Dutch shot-stopper, who has been ill all week, failed a late fitness test to give Northern Ireland international Taylor a rare first-team outing.

Fulham started like a steam train and almost scored within 60 seconds of kick-off. Davis’ first effort was blocked but he seized on the loose ball and fired goalwards again. Kiraly misjudged his shot and almost palmed the ball into his own net.

Goma went even closer after five minutes, flicking a header from Steed Malbranque’s left-wing corner against the top of Germans’ crossbar.

At the other end, Taylor was out quickly to intercept Luizao Goulart’s through-ball which was destined for Marcelinho.

Boa Morte then displayed the best and worst qualities of his game inside a minute. First, he used his searing pace to race onto Marlet’s angled header and unleash a thumping drive which hit Kiraly and rebounded to safety.

But then he produced an astonishing error when he should have scored. Marlet raced clear and pulled a cross back from the byline – and Boa Morte, just six yards out, incredibly side-footed against the outside of the near post.

Kiraly made a wonder-save from Marlet’s 14-yard volley in the 42nd minute, signalling a hectic finale

to the first period.

The French striker raced onto the rebound and crossed towards Davis, with the ball clearly hitting

Dick van Burik’s left arm but Fulham’s penalty appeals fell on deaf ears.

Play then swung to the other end and Marcelinho almost scored twice. His dazzling run and shot was met by a flying Taylor save – and from the resulting corner, he delivered a vicious flag-kick which hit the near post.

Davis had a decent crack at goal with 54 minutes on the clock – but his stinging drive only found Kiraly’s midriff.

With Fulham needing to score to avoid the end of their European adventure at the third-round stage, Pierre Wome burst into the penalty box.

He reached the byline and delivered a fine square ball – but Kiraly second-guessed Wome’s intention and cut out the danger.

A towering leap by Marlet left visiting keeper Kiraly flat out on his back with 13 minutes left. It was a hard but fair challenge by the French international – but infuriated van Burik, who angrily remonstrated with the Fulham player.

Boa Morte had another chance late on but shot from an acute angle and Kiraly parried.

Michael Hartmann hit the outside of the post for Hertha in injury-time but the Germans did not have to score to secure their passage into the fourth round.