CSKA Sofia 1-1 Fulham
Fulham began the group stage of their European campaign with a draw in Bulgaria
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Thursday, 17, Sep 2009 07:43
By Matt Hallam.
Diomansy Kamara secured a hard fought draw for Fulham as they drew 1-1 with CSKA Sofia in the opening game of their Europa League campaign.
Bulgaria's Sofia took the lead through substitute Ferreira Michel's powerful shot from the edge of the box.
However Diomansy Kamara equalised minutes later and secured a share of the points for Fulham.
The game was also notable for the first implementation of extra assistant referees behind the goal, however they were never called into action.
Roy Hodgson made nine changes from the side that beat Everton at the weekend with Simon Davies starting his first game of the season alongside loan-signing Jonathan Greening in midfield and 19-year-old Chris Smalling in defence.
The home side, buoyed on by a raucous crowd in Bulgaria's national stadium, began confidently and Ivan Stoyanov showed himself to be a danger when he cut inside from the right and curled his shot just wide of David Stockdale's far post.
Fulham struggled to maintain any meaningful possession but Hodgson's team began to find a foothold in the game on the half hour with good defending preventing Smalling reaching Davies curling free kick from the right. Smalling was involved again soon after and should have done better when he headed a corner high over the bar.
Sofia's best chance came from Ivan Stoyanov as he cut in from the left to release a low shot that Stockdale saved well at his near post.
Kostadin Stoyanov was next to test Fulham's defence with a marauding run from left-back but Baird cleared his low cross to safety.
Fulham should have taken the lead just before half-time when Greening found himself in an excellent position down the right after a slick counter attack, however his cross was poor which allowed Sofia to clear. Davies followed up with a shot from the edge of the box but it was a routine save for Ivan Karadzhov.
Sofia began the second half with more urgency and Yordan Todorov flashed the ball wide when he should have crossed for substitute Marcos Marquinhos who was well placed in the box.
One of the new assistant referees had a chance to make a key decision when Marquinhos' cross bounced up to hit Stephen Kelly on the arm in the penalty area, but the referee waved Sofia's appeals away.
Sofia looked dangerous and took the lead through substitute Michel. Marquinhos controlled a long ball on his chest and laid it off for the Brazilian with the nickname 'Platini' on his back to smash past Stockdale.
The stadium erupted but the crowd were stunned into silence three minutes later when Kamara latched onto Erik Nevland's ball over the top and rounded the goalkeeper to slot in Fulham's equaliser.
Sofia looked to regain the lead but were prevented by Stockdale who made an excellent stop from Todorov to secure an away point for his team.