A Diego Forlan double wins the Europa League final for Atletico Madrid over Fulham. Read the verdict of Click Liverpool's chief football correspondent Richard Buxton from Hamburg's Nordbank Arena.
Given the dilemma that has dominated the nation’s headlines over the previous six days, the nomination of Roy Hodgson for Prime Minister would be an inspired appointment.
Voting for the 62-year-old, a message proudly displayed on a banner in the Fulham end of the Nordbank Arena, to govern the country may be a little far-fetched but if required he would fit that bill perfectly.
Hodgson has all the leadership qualities to work with a budget as restrictive as the UK economy’s, work wonders with personnel deemed obsolete by higher authorities and instil the belief in a nation that nothing is impossible even against a heavyweight European name like Atletico Madrid.
Fulham fans have chanted “stand up if you still believe” in the previous two rounds and they never lost that faith with the man who single-handedly took them from the brink of relegation to their first ever European final and tonight was no different as they battled on over 90 minutes and extra time.
But even the best leaders make mistakes, as countless PMs over the years have proved, and Hodgson’s troops appeared to be suffering from first night nerves as captain Danny Murphy, no stranger to cup finals from his Liverpool days, let Atleti get the better of him in the opening stages.
He carelessly gave away possession to Sergio Aguero who found Diego Forlan but the Uruguayan saw his effort cannon back off Mark Schwarzer’s left-hand post.
When a goal did eventually come, it arrived courtesy of the ex-Manchester United hitman on 31 minutes, guiding Sergio Aguero’s volley past a helpless Schwarzer following impressive build-up play by the La Liga outfit.
A response came six minutes later from Simon Davies, one of those considered surplus to requirements by former employers Everton and Tottenham Hotspur. The Welshman hit a stunning half volley after finding Zoltan Gera’s cross deflected into his path.
Forlan should have doubled his tally in the first half of extra time after Brede Hangeland could only clear Jose Jurado’s cross but his blushes were saved well by Schwarzer. Aguero will rue not retaining the lead for his side after sliding a Raul Garcia ball across the face of the box into the side netting
The general view in Spain is that Atleti have punched above their weight in this competition, but they looked a more solid and threatening unit going forward compared to the ones that edged victory at Anfield three weeks previous.
Defensively they left little to be desired and had David de Gea to thank for keeping denying Fulham the lead, more so than their opponents who continued to demonstrate their ability to respond to a setback with a series of onslaughts that exposed Los Colchoneros’ frail back line.
Both sides were evenly matched in the type of final UEFA chiefs will no doubt have dreamed of following their rebranding of the competition last summer, possibly complete with a dramatic late winner. Enter stage right Forlan with another clever finish.
The trophy may be winging its way to the Spanish capital and whilst Fulham’s inconsolable players lay on the pitch, they and their fans will hopefully look back on this as the beginning rather than the end of an illustrious chapter in their history because with Hodgson they still have that belief.
ATLETICO MADRID (4-4-2): De Gea, Ujfalusi, Perea, Dominguez, Antonio Lopez, Reyes (Salvio 78), Paulo Assuncao, Raul Garcia, Simao (Jurado 68), Forlan, Aguero (Valera 119). Subs not used - Joel, Camacho, Juanito, Cabrera.
FULHAM (4-4-2): Schwarzer, Baird, Hughes, Hangeland, Konchesky, Duff (Nevland 84), Etuhu, Murphy (Greening 118), Davies, Gera, Zamora (Dempsey 55). Subs not used - Zuberbuhler, Pantsil, Riise, Dikgacoi.
GOALS: Forlan (31, 116), Davies (37)
ATTENDANCE: 49,000
REFEREE: Nicola Rizzoli (Italy)
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You can now follow Richard Buxton, our Liverpool FC correspondent, on Twitter at http://twitter.com/rbuxton87
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