Intertoto Cup Final 2nd Leg

Fulham 3-1 Bologna (Fulham win 5-3 on agg)

Images courtesy of Javier Garcia

FROM THE BBC

A Junichi Inamoto hat-trick ensured Fulham's first European title as the Cottagers triumphed in the Intertoto Cup.

The Japanese midfielder, who was released on a free transfer by Arsenal in the summer, was in sensational form as the Cottagers triumphed 3-1 at Loftus Road for a 5-3 aggregate win.

The victory also ensured the Premiership side's passage into the Uefa Cup.

Inamoto opened his account in the 12th minute, finishing off a one-two with Facundo Sava.

His hat-trick was complete by the 50th minute as a stunning volley and a scrappier third goal capped a potent solo display.

The World Cup star put the Cottagers into the lead early on in the contest.

Steve Finnan cleared the ball upfield to the Japanese international who played an excellent ball through to Sava.

Sava laid it back to Inamoto who drilled the ball past Pagliuca into the bottom left-hand corner of the Bologna goal.

Steve Marlet came close to extending the lead after 20 minutes but his header was kept out by Pagliuca.

And Inamoto nearly sealed his second of the night minutes later but hit the side netting with the only other opportunity of the half.

The former Gunner's evening was not unblemished, though, as he paved the way for a Bologna equaliser in the 34th minute.

He failed to cut off a pass to Tomas Locatelli, who drove the ball past Edwin van der Sar courtesy of a Zac Knight deflection.

Bologna came close to taking the lead five minutes from the interval when Carlo Nervo came down in the penalty box.

But Swiss referee Massimo Busacca turned down the Italians' penalty pleas, instead handing Nervo a yellow card for diving.

The second half started in similar fashion to the first, Inamoto putting his side into an early lead.

This time it took just 75 seconds, as he pounced on some sloppy defence to put the home side back in front.

The opportunity arose after the ball was barely cleared by the opposition defence and he cut in to unleash a sensational volley past Pagliuca from the edge of the area.

His European hat-trick was complete three minutes later as Bologna's back four once again wilted.

Latching on to a Marlet cross, he struck only to see his shot ricochet back but made no mistake at the second attempt.

FROM SKY SPORTS

Junichi Inamoto scored a superb hat-trick to fire Fulham into the UEFA Cup for the first time in their history.

The Japan international was snapped up on loan by Jean Tigana after Arsenal rejected him in the summer and he repaid the Frenchman's faith on his first start for the club.

Inamoto opened the scoring after 12 minutes before Bologna equalised through Tomas Locatelli after 34.

But two goals in the first five minutes of the second half from the 22-year-old sealed a historic night for the Cottagers at their temporary Loftus Road home.

Fulham's only previous European adventure was three games in the Anglo-Italian Cup nearly 20 years ago. But the 2-2 draw they secured in the first leg in  Bologna a fortnight ago set up a historic night - and they stretched their unbeaten run to 10 matches with some style.

The glory march began when Inamoto, rejected by Arsenal in the summer despite shining at the World Cup in his homeland, swapped passes with Facundo Sava on the edge of the box and drilled a shot beyond Gianluca Pagliuca and into the bottom left corner.

In a blood and thunder encounter, it was Inamoto who was guilty of some slack marking which allowed Tomas Locatelli time and space on the left edge of the box to fire a deflected equaliser into the far corner.

But Inamoto capitalised on some sloppy defending when he pounced after just 75 seconds of the restart and scored the goal which put Fulham back in front.

And the pocket-sized Japanese star completed a brilliant hat-trick after 50 minutes. After running on to a pass from Marlet, his first effort was blocked by Pagliuca. But he raced on to the follow up to steer the ball home.

Fulham might have won more comfortably but there were some heroics from veteran goalkeeper Gianluca Pagliuca, the man who played in three World Cups for Italy.

FROM SPORTING LIFE

Junichi Inamoto scored a superb hat-trick to fire Fulham into the UEFA Cup for the first time in their history.

The Japan international was snapped up on loan by Jean Tigana after Arsenal rejected him in the summer and he repaid the Frenchman's faith on his first start for the club.

Inamoto opened the scoring after 12 minutes before Bologna equalised through Tomas Locatelli after 34.

But two goals in the first five minutes of the second half from the 22-year-old sealed a historic night for the Cottagers at their temporary Loftus Road home.

Inamoto set Fulham on the road with a superb individual goal after the Cottagers had earned a 2-2 draw in Bologna a fortnight ago.

But Locatelli levelled matters when he cut in from the left and fired past Edwin van der Sar.

Steve Marlet had two great headers, one against the crossbar and one brilliantly saved by Gianluca Pagliuca before Inamoto struck again.

He rifled home a sweet drive from the edge of the box early in the second half and just minutes later sealed a memorable victory when he finished off a move instigated by Luis Boa Morte.

Fulham: Van der Sar, Finnan, Brevett, Knight, Goma, Inamoto (Malbranque 72), Marlet (Saha 72), Legwinski, Sava, Davis (Collins 74), Boa Morte.
Subs Not Used: Taylor, Melville, Hayles, Ouaddou.
Booked: Legwinski, Finnan.

Bologna: Pagliuca, Zaccardo, Olive, Castellini, Nervo, Colucci, Cruz, Signori (Bellucci 61), Falcone, Locatelli (Frara 78), Paramatti (Smit 78).
Subs Not Used: Coppola, Gamberini, Goretti, Meghni.
Booked: Olive, Nervo, Colucci.