Inamoto fires Fulham into UEFA Cup

Fulham 3 Bologna 1 (Fulham win 5-3 on agg)

Fulham 3 Bologna 1
(Fulham win 5-3 on agg)

A hat-trick from Fulham’s World Cup sensation Junichi Inamoto delivered one of three UEFA Cup berths against Bologna in their Intertoto Cup second leg match tonight.

The Japan international was snapped up on loan by Jean Tigana after Arsenal rejected him in the summer and he repaid the Frenchman's faith on his first start for the club.

Inamoto opened the scoring after 12 minutes before Bologna equalised through Tomas Locatelli after 34.

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But two goals in the first five minutes of the second half from the 22-year-old sealed a historic night for the Cottagers at their temporary Loftus Road home.

Earlier, a late goal spree gifted German Bundesliga side VfB Stuttgart another of the UEFA Cup spots.

The Germans had been trailing Lille 1-0 going into the second leg, but netted two goals in the space of seven minutes in the dying minutes of the game as their opponents succumbed to the pressure.

Malaga lead Villareal 1-0 in tonight’s final Intertoto match.