by becoming the only English side to win a European tie this week.
Fulham, who knocked out mighty Juventus in the last round, saw off German champions Wolfsburg 2-1 in
their Europa League quarter-final clash at Craven Cottage. In Lisbon, Liver- pool surrended a one-goal
lead to lose 2-1 to Benfica and they also ended the game with 10 men after Dutch winger Ryan Babbel
was sent off in the first half.
In the night’s other two first-leg ties, Atletico Madrid and Valencia drew 2-2 in an all-Spanish
affair while Hamburg, who will host the final in May, edged Standard Liege 2-1. Roy Hodgson’s
unfashionable Fulham, who had accounted for holders Shakhtar Donetsk as well as Juve en route to the
last eight, were 2-0 ahead against Wolfsburg thanks to two goals in four second-half minutes from
Bobby Zamora and Damien Duff. But the German champions grabbed a last-minute lifeline with a crucial
away goal when Alexander Madlung scored.
Liverpool were ahead at Lisbon’s Stadium of Light after just nine minutes when Danish defender Daniel
Agger neatly backheeled the ball into the corner. But the five-time European champions found
themselves down to 10 men when Babbel was sent off for pushing Luisao, who had an- gered the Dutchman
for a foul on Fernando Torres.
Paraguayan striker Oscar Cardo- zo levelled with a 59th-minute penalty after Pablo Aimar went down
under Emiliano Insua’s chal- lenge. Cardozo then added his eighth goal of the tournament in
the 79th minute when another penalty was awarded after Jamie Carragher, playing his 621st match for
Liverpool, handled the ball.
“We are really disappointed. We started really well, scored an early goal and we created some chances
even with 10 men,” said Liverpool midfielder Lucas Leiva. “Now we have to keep going and try to go
through in Anfield. The away goal always is important.” Atletico Madrid coach Quique Sanchez Flores
returned to his for-
mer club Valencia and came away with a 2-2 draw. Sanchez Flores spent most of his playing career at
the Mestalla and was coach from 2005 until 2007.
His side twice took the lead through Diego Forlan and Antonio Lopez but Valencia, who are third in the
Spanish first division and chas- ing a Champions League spot, hit back through Manuel Fernandes and
David Villa.
In Germany, Hamburg edged Standard Liege 2-1 after coming
back from a goal down. Dieudonne Mbokani found the target on 31 minutes before Mladen Petric levelled
from the penalty spot nine minutes later. Dutch forward Ruud van Nistelrooy grabbed the winner on the
stroke of half-time for Hamburg who eliminated Standard’s rivals Anderlecht in the previous round. The
German side have an extra incentive to progress in the tournament as the May 12 fi- nal is being held
at their Hamburg Arena ground.
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