Fulham crash out of Europe

Europa League: Fulham looked to have had the match in the bag early on in the match but crashed out in injury time.

Europa League:Fulham looked to have had the match in the bag early on in the match but crashed out in injury time.

The London club hit their first in the 27th minute and what a lovely goal it was. Frei's run down the left was magical and he played in Zamora, who deftly set it up for Dempsey.

Dempsey finished the job of burying the ball home from inside the penalty area. That put The Cottagers ahead, back in second place and on line for a place in the knock out stages of the competition.

Martin Jols’ Premier League club went into the match six points behind leaders FC Twente, who have already qualified but knew that Polish team Wisla Krakow trailed them by just one point and were in touching distance. So there was significant urgency.

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Fulham’s second goal arrived four minutes later when Dembele intercepted Mendy, and ran across the goal before delightfully playing in Frei, who slotted underneath goalkeeper Wessels for 2-0. That closed the half with Odense demoralised and Fulham on the up and cruising towards the next phase.

But things turned somewhat shortly after half time when the third goal arrived on the 64th minute from Andreasen and hauled Odense back into the game for 2-1. His sublime free kick curled into the bottom corner to set nerve in Craven Cottage jingling.

Damian Duff entered the fray for Dempsey on 72 minutes but the match was turned on its head when Fall scored in the second minute of injury time. It was unbelievable as Fall netted from close range in the last kick of the match.

As Wisla won 2-1 against Twente, Fulham are now out of the Europa League after being seconds away from qualifying. There were truly astonishing scenes as Jol's men were literally seconds away from qualifying. A complete sickener at Craven Cottage but Fulham's Europa League campaign comes to an end.

Ten-man Stoke lost their unbeaten Europa League record and had to settle for second place in Group E as Besiktas came from behind to win 3-1 in Istanbul.

With the Potters having already qualified for the last 32, boss Tony Pulis left all 11 players who started against Tottenham last weekend at home but then saw his side take an unlikely 29th-minute lead through Ricardo Fuller.

Asmir Begovic had been superb in keeping Besiktas at bay but in the 59th minute Manuel Fernandes equalised from the penalty spot after Matthew Upson was sent off for felling Hugo Almeida.

Goals from substitutes Mustafa Pektemek and Edu secured the points and top spot for Besiktas.

In the other match in Group E Dynamo Kiev came from 2-0 down at half time to draw 3-3 with Maccabi Tel-Aviv but went out of the competition.

Group D saw FC Zurich score twice in the second half after 0-0 at half time to beat EC Vaslui 2-0, while Italy’s Lazio scored a goal in each half for a 2-0 win against Sporting Lisbon.

Group F proved to be the group of goals with Paris St Germain knocking in four against Spannish side Athletico Bilbao for just two in return for 4-2. But that wasn’t enough for the Frencvh side who depart.

Slovan Bratislava were drawing 2-2 with big spending SV Red Bull Saltzburg at the break before the Austrian side added one more just after halftime for the 3-2 win.