Clint Dempsey went the distance for Fulham but was unable to help them to a win in Rome while an evening of stellar play from Tim Howard wasn't enough to keep Everton from falling to Benfica.
AS Roma 2 - 1 Fulham FC
Clint Dempsey got the start for Fulham in Roma's legendary Stadio Olimpico, but the Cottagers were unable to hold onto their lead after early second-half sending off left them short-handed.
Confident Fulham came out the more active of the two teams, creating more pressure around the Roma goal in the early minutes. Their tenacity quickly paid off, as Diomansy Kamara was tripped up by Marco Andreolli in the area after taking a pass from Dempsey, with the Senegalese international slotting away the spot kick with no problem.
Holding the lead through the half, the Cottagers were dealt a cruel blow when substitute Erik Nevland was shown a harsh red four minutes after the break for a tackle from behind on Daniele de Rossi, with the Giallorossi having the game in firm control thereafter.
The hosts equalized in the 69th minute when a blast from John Arne Riise from the edge of the area found its way into Mark Schwarzer's goal after deflecting off a defender, then took the lead seven minutes later when Stefano Okaka Chuka headed in a cross from Rodrigo Taddei.
Unable to overcome their man-disadvantage to net an equalizer, the loss for the Cottagers was confirmed just before full time, with the team being reduced to nine men after Paul Konchesky's red - their third over the two group games with Roma.
Eddie Johnson did not suit up for Fulham.
The loss drops the Cottagers into third place in Group E, two points behind their vanquishers in the race for second place, and needing victories in the final two group games to assure advancement to the knockout rounds.
With their next group stage game in four weeks against visiting CSKA Sofia, Hodgson's squad will turn their eyes towards their relatively cushy Premier League schedule in he meantime.
Everton 0 - 2 SL Benfica
Tim Howard saw extensive action in Everton's goal, being forced into nine saves, however it was not enough against the lethal Benfica attack as the Toffees dropped their second straight to the Portuguese powerhouse.
The Toffees predictably came out as the aggressors in their home stadium, but a lack of crispness in the final third saw them unable to put away a series of chances throughout the first half.
Howard also did his part to keep the visitors off the scoreboard throughout the half, denying Angel Di Maria in the 14th minute then making a fine save of a blast from Javier Saviola four minutes before the pause.
Benfica took matters into their own hands in the second half, peppering Howard's goal with a variety of shots before Saviola netted from close range in the 63rd minute to give them the lead.
They made their advantage a pair 12 minutes later with a fine volley from Oscar Rene Cardozo, and stifled the Toffees' attack to confirm their victory on the night and sole possession of first in the group.
A draw in the other Group I game between BATE Borisov and AEK Athens leaves Everton with a narrow two point lead ahead of both in second place.
They will travel to Athens for their next group stage encounter in four weeks, but will first turn their eyes towards getting their Premier League campaign back on track, beginning with a visit to West Ham on Sunday.
Notes
Jared Jeffrey was not in the Club Brugge squad that downed hosts Partizan Belgrade by a 4-2 score on Thursday night to move into sole possession of second place in group J.
Celtic backup keeper Dominic Cervi watched from the bench as they remained in last place in Group C with a lifeless 0-0 draw in Hamburg, with the team's hopes for advancement to the knockout stage hanging by a thread.
Bryan Arguez was not on Hertha's bench as they climbed into third place of Group D and unexpectedly put themselves in contention for a place in the knockout round with a 3-2 win at Heerenveen. |
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