Fulham 2-1 Birmingam City
Zamora has now scored four goals in four games
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By Darren Estwick. |  |
Sunday, 21, Feb 2010 05:14
by Sam Ross.
Fulham came from a goal behind to beat Birmingham City 2-1 thanks to a last minute free kick from Bobby Zamora at Craven Cottage.
Birmingham were gifted an early goal by Fulham but the Cottagers responded well to gain a crucial three points in their bid for a Europa League place ahead of the Blues.
Birmingham started strongly with James McFadden forcing Mark Schwarzer into making an early save with just over a minute played.
The breakthrough came in the third minute when the unfortunate Chris Baird headed the ball into his own net from a Lee Bowyer free kick.
Baird nearly atoned for his earlier mis-hap when his floated ball was volleyed goal wards by Simon Davies but was well saved by Joe Hart.
The first chance for the home side came in the seventh minute when Nicky Shorey slashed wide from the edge of the area after a whipped in free kick by Damien Duff.
Fulham were in the ascendancy and began to calve open opportunities with Brede Hangeland but the Norwegian header harmlessly over from a Simon Davies corner.
Simon Davies had the best chance of the half just after the half hour mark but his effort from a Zoltan Gera cross was superbly saved by Hart - in front of watching England manager Fabio Capello.
The last chance of the half fell to Fulham forward Bobby Zamora but he sent his effort wide of the left hand upright.
Joe Hart denied a Zamora volley in the 52nd minute before Cameron Jerome had a great chance to double the Blues lead from 12 yards moments later. But Schwarzer responded to his opposite number's save by thwarting Jerome with a fine stop.
Damien Duff then equalised for the Cottagers on 58 minutes when he smashed home into the bottom left corner of the net from just outside the penalty area after Gera had played in the Irishman.
It was clear that both sides were keen on taking all three points and as the game drew to an end were both goalkeepers - Joe Hart and Mark Schwarzer - were being strongly tested.
Barry Ferguson had a shot well blocked by Hangeland in the 75th minute before James McFadden forced Schwarzer into tipping the ball onto the cross bar. Joe Hart was also alert when in the 86th minute he reacted to deny a Danny Murphy strike from 20 yards.
But the decisive goal game in injury time when Zoltan Gera was tripped on the edge of the area by Stephen Carr. In form striker Bobby Zamora stepped up to beautifully curl the ball around the wall in to the top left corner of the goal leaving the impressive Hart to pick the ball out of the net resigned to defeat.