AS Roma 2 - 1 Fulham

Nine-man Fulham succumb in Rome

Updated: November 5, 2009, 8:25 AM UK

Roma came from behind to beat nine-man Fulham at the Stadio Olimpico in Europa League Group E tonight.

• Hodgson rails against "injustice"

Diomansy Kamara put the Cottagers ahead in the 19th minute from the penalty spot after being brought down inside the area by Marco Andreolli.

Fulham shot themselves in the foot early in the second half, though, when substitute Erik Nevland was shown a straight red card three minutes after coming on for a tackle on Daniele De Rossi.

Roma took advantage with John Arne Riise equalising in the 68th minute before Stefano Okaka headed in the winner with 14 minutes remaining.

Fulham defender Paul Konchesky was handed his marching orders late in the game after a foul on substitute Rodrigo Taddei.

The result marked Fulham's first defeat in the competition and left them third in the group, two points behind Roma with two games remaining.

The match did not capture the imagination of the Giallorossi fans with the famous Olympic stadium less than half full.

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 Philippe 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 to break the deadlock.

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.

Clint 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.

On the hour mark, Fulham goalkeeper Mark 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-footed strike from the edge of the area taking a deflection from a Fulham defender and surprising Schwarzer.

The hosts went in front in the 76th minute with Okaka's close-range header from Taddei's cross beating Schwarzer.

Fulham went in search of the equaliser but it was Roma who looked more dangerous.

With five minutes remaining, Schwarzer was forced to dive to his right to save Okaka's acrobatic kick from the edge of the area.

Substitute Chris Baird had a good chance to make it 2-2 but his right-footed strike on target was cleared by Mexes as Roma held on for the win.

Fulham ended the game down to nine men after Konchesky was shown a straight red with seconds remaining following a foul on Taddei.

Hodgson rails against "injustice"

Fulham manager Roy Hodgson believes his team suffered an "injustice".

"You cannot be happy in the face of injustice," Hodgson said. "I accept the situation because the referee makes the decision but I'm not happy. I think the two red cards were very harsh. I didn4t speak to the referee. I only spoke to the fourth official. To play in the second half down to 10 men is a bitter pill to swallow. But what can you do but accept the referee's decision because it doesn't change anything."

"It was a fantastic performance from my players in the first half," Hodgson continued. "We have been better than Roma when playing 11 against 11 in both games."

Roma coach Claudio Ranieri, meanwhile, felt the red card for Nevland was justified.

"The sending off benefited us for sure," Ranieri said. "But I believe it was a red card as Nevland made the foul in a Roma counter-attack. Fulham deserved the lead in the first half but my team did better after the re-start and we never gave up and we were rewarded."

Hodgson believes his team's chances of progressing in Europe are now slim. "This defeat leaves us struggling in the group," Hodgson said. "Every time you get players sent off you have players suspended for three matches which means, at this rate, I would need to have a squad of 60 players. Unfortunately, this defeat takes things out of our hands a little bit. We could win the last two games and still not qualify."

Hodgson, whose side travel to Wigan this weekend, expects his team will learn from the trip to Rome. "It has been an interesting experience," Hodgson said. "We will become stronger and bounce back."

Ranieri feels Roma now control their own destiny. "I think now we have a good chance to progress but there are still two games remaining and we face group leaders Basle in the next round," he said.