Marvellous: 

I know a thing or two about miscarriages of justice. My book is about one of the most notorious in British history. Fitted In: The Cardiff 3 and the Lynette White Inquiry helped to make legal history seven years ago, but what has this got to do with a football match? The answer is simple. If Fulham manager Roy Hodgson is not honoured by his peers and fans as well at the end of this remarkable season that saw him take unfancied Fulham to a European Cup final the hard way, it will be a miscarriage of justice.

The greatest night in the club’s history so far has just ended. Fulham alone will fly the flag for Britain in Europe this season, having just eliminated the hosts of the inaugural Europa League from the final with two second half goals from unsung heroes Simon Davies and Zoltán Gera in seven second-half minutes that turned the match on its head.

Hamburger SV’s Opportunity:

Hamburger’ keeper Frank Rost had an eventful night, but on 69 minutes his task was to pick the ball out of the net after Davies brought Fulham back into the game. Rost had thwarted Bobby Zamora within three minutes. Put clear by a sublime flick from Hungarian international Gera, Zamora was denied by a fine save by Rost and put the rebound wide in front of the England manager Fabio Capello. Danny Murphy and Paul Konchesky contributed to the move that gave Zamora with a very presentable opportunity.

It galvanised Hamburger SV into action, led by the influential Mladan Petrić, whose performance eclipsed that of his more famous striking partner Ruud van Nistelrooy, but for all the effort, shots on goal were at a premium. Damien Duff and Brede Hangeland had efforts that did not require any movement from Rost as well and Mark Schwarzer was a spectator until Murphy tripped the on-rushing Zé Roberto thirty yards out – surely no danger there.

Petrić placed the ball and Schwarzer set his wall, but it was no match for Petrić’s skill and ingenuity. His shot cleared the wall, dipped and swerved past Schwarzer for a superb goal. Whether Schwarzer blames himself or not, nothing should detract from Petrić’s strike. It was a potentially vital away goal as well after the bore draw in Germany last week. Petrić was Hamburger’s best player by far and will surely attract the attention of bigger clubs.

Midfielder Jonathan Pitropia was elusive and caught off-side as he threatened to double the advantage while the Manchester City-bound German international Jérôme Boateng – brother of Portsmouth’s Kevin-Prince – shackled Zamora. The decision to sack coach Bruno Labbadia after the 5-1 thrashing by Hoffenheim at the weekend seemed vindicated.

Special: 

Fulham could not find a way through before half time. They had conquered defending champions Shakhtar Donetsk, came back from the seemingly dead against Juventus and brushed past German champions Wolfsburg to get this far. They would not be denied.

A special night beckoned despite the best efforts of an Icelandic volcano disrupting travel plans to Germany last week and heavy rain holding off until Fulham had completed their task. They played fifty-nine matches already this season, starting nine in July against FK Vetra to get this far in a competition that started off as almost an inconvenience before becoming a greater priority until finally it is the main priority for the West-London club that is now England’s only chance of European glory this year.

Redemption:

With 69 minutes gone Fulham skipper Danny Murphy, whose foul had led to Petrić’s goal, received  the ball from Davies near the half-way line and foraged forward before picking out Davies on the edge of the area. The midfielder flicked it up, beat Guy Demel before stroking it in with his left foot.

The player that many wanted to be substituted redeemed himself and made long-suffering fans grateful that Hodgson chose to replace the still recovering Bobby Zamora rather than Davies. It set up the final twenty minutes to provide fans who remember the dark days of staving off relegation and following their club in the lowest league for the greatest football night of their lives.

The Hungarian Talisman:

Zoltán Gera started the season as very much a fringe player, limited to opportunities when Hodgson chose to rest players or when injury struck, but his improvement demanded recognition. Hodgson gave him opportunities. He rewarded the faith with performances and crucial goals – none more than tonight.

Petrić’s marvellous strike counted double – it almost deserved that on merit – but was an away goal meaning that Fulham had to score twice. Davies’ equaliser raised the tempo, but Hamburger SV still had the advantage. It was far from the best goal that Gera has scored or will score, but it was the most important for him and his club.

Demel was at fault again, failing to clear when harried by Davies. The ball broke to Gera, who swivelled to create the space he needed to blast home from close range. With 77 minutes gone the crowd that had lifted the Cottagers were ecstatic. Their efforts should not be forgotten either.

Frantic and Bizarre:

The Germans chased an equaliser with greater urgency, but Fulham held on until injury time approached. Rost joined the attack and was caught out on the break. Gera was cynically tripped by the German keeper – a straight red card if ever there was one. The foul denied Gera a goal-scoring opportunity. Turkish referre Cünet Çakir brandished a yellow card to the bemusement and annoyance of Fulham players, but that was soon forgotten as Çakir ended the contest and Fulham had made history.

Çakir’s performance will be sure to raise at least the eyebrows of José Mourinho and Thiago Motta after the Brasilian midfielder was sent of with more than an hour to play after Sergio Busquets cynically exploited contact to go to ground as if pole-axed. Motta’s hand was raised; there was contact, but Busquets’ reaction shamed the Catalans. That was bad enough but how Motta was red-carded when Rost was not will mystify and infuriate both fans and observers.

Heroes:

Zamora was recovering from injury, but regardless of whether he is on the flight to South Africa or not, he has won the hearts of Fulham’s supporters. He is struggling to regain fitness for the final and will be rested in the fortnight to follow.

Ghanaian international John Pantsil was treated royally as well. He gave the fans several lap of honour after the greatest night in Fulham’s history and his too, so what does Pantsil want more, Fulham to win the Europa League final, or Ghana the World Cup? “Both,” Pantsil said without hesitation. Dickson Etuhu was ecstatic too. “It’s the greatest night of my career,” he said.

Pantsil’s last contribution was to allow midfielder Jonathan Piropia to cheekily ghost between him and Murphy into the area only to drag his shot wide of Mark Schwarzer’s left handpost. It was a turning point.

Pantsil left to a rapturous reception – he has endured over three months of injury hell that put him out of the African Cup of Nations and threatened his participation in Africa’s World Cup. Moments later Davies scored and then Gera gave Fulham the advantage they never surrendered. The Germans chased the game, but Fulham deservedly will fly the flag for Britain in a European final this season – one of the best stories in football for a long time.