CSKA Sofia 1-1 Fulham: Diomansy Kamara On Target For Cottagers

Hodgson's Fulham claim point in opening group game.

Sep 17, 2009 3:49:38 PM

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Diomansy Kamara - Fulham

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A weakened Fulham outfit jet back to west London this evening with a point to declare as a 65th minute Diomansy Kamara effort canceled out CSKA Sofia substitute Michel's goal four minutes prior.

It had become apparent before kick-off that Fulham boss Roy Hodgson was going to ring the changes for their Thursday midweek Euro showdown, following on from the win over Everton last weekend.

The quaint Cottagers were without influential central midfielder Danny Murphy and USA international Clint Dempsey due to injury, while towering defensive presence Brede Hangeland was rested. With the spotlight on English football's perceived devaluing of competition in it's former format, the UEFA Cup, Hodgson felt the need to defend his squad selection.

An away point, though, effectively justified the 62-year-old's decision, however, it was one that could have been made easier for them had it not been for their Bulgarian opposition's attempts at complicating procedure.


Chances in the first half were few and far between, with the game's only notable effort arriving just before the break. Jonathan Greening and Kamara combined well to trouble The Reds, and the former West Bromwich Albion star's shot was met by the mitts of Ivan Karadzhov.

Eight minutes after the re-start, and UEFA president Michel Platini's goal-line experiment - where extra officials are positioned behind the net to offer extra eyes on penalty calls and ambiguous decisions  - was called into question as a spot-kick call had the home fans excited. Stephen Kelly's perceived handball, though, had been deemed fair play by the officiator.

Just after the hourmark and Michel, a recent Brazilian import, gave his new side the lead as the 26-year-old finished exquisitely passed stand-in glovesman David Stockdale.

Cheers were short-lived. Kamara restored parity just three minutes later after a hail-Mary pass from the back was pounced on by Kamara and Karadzhov was forced to pluck the ball out of his own net after being caught off his line.

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