Crusaders 1-3 Fulham: Jol’s side avoid Europa League scare as a Zamora header & Murphy penalty secure first leg win

Matthew Briggs , Fulham (Getty Images)

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Fulham avoided a potential banana skin tie in Northern Ireland to take a 3-1 lead back to Craven Cottage, following their victory in the second round of Europa League qualifying against Crusaders.

The Cottagers were playing at Seaview, and were the first top-flight English opposition to play there in a competitive European game since Liverpool back in 1976

New signing John Arne Riise wasn’t called into the squad, meaning there was a still a place in the starting line-up for youngster Matthew Briggs and it was he who opened the scoring – and his account for the club – after 38 minutes.

The youngster showed no sense of stage-fright, confidently shooting from outside the box on numerous, and was rewarded when his shot nestled in the top left-hand corner of the goal.

And the early breakthrough was much deserved by Martin Jol’s side, who started the brighter of the two, with captain Danny Murphy orchestrating proceedings from the middle of the park.

But to their credit, Crusaders restricted the Cottagers to shots from distance in the first half which weren’t troubling them at all – but they failed to get a shot away themselves. England international Bobby Zamora – continuing his run in the starting XI after returning from injury – unleashed an effort from 20 yards, which goalkeeper Sean O’Neill did well to keep out.

They did however surprise Fulham in the second-half, with Timmy Adamson levelling the scoring after 53 minutes, as the former Linfield and Dungannon Swifts striker fire home on his debut to give his team a fighting chance against Premier League opposition.

Nonetheless, Fulham put paid to any shock result with a quick-fire salvo with 15 minutes to play.

Zamora headed home a Damien Duff cross for his first of the campaign and skipper Murphy scored his second penalty of the campaign after a handball in the box by defender Paul Leeman.

Elsewhere, Glentoran were beaten at home by Vorskla Poltava 2-0.