JUVENTUS RIPS FULHAM IN EUROPA QUARTERFINALS

English Premier League entrant Fulham was hoping to emerge from their Thursday quarterfinal matchup against Juventus at Stadio Olimpico di Turin in good shape to advance to the semifinals.  Juvie had struggled at home of late, and a confident Fulham side hoped to add to these woes.  It didn’t quite work out that way, however, as Juventus scored just nine minutes in and led 3-1 at halftime.  Fulham was unable to cut into that margin after the break leaving them with a two goal deficit heading into the second half of the aggregate score series back in England next week.

Soccer betting odds had Juventus installed as a -162 home favorite despite their recent slump.  Takeback on Fulham was a generous +500, with the draw priced at +260.  The 4 goals scored went OVER the posted total of 2’.  The game was played before a sparse crowd of 11,400 people in the 28,000 seat stadium with over 1000 of those in attendance Fulham supporters.

Nicola Legrottaglie got the Juventus scoring onslaught started with his goal just nine minutes into the game.  Jonathan Zebina added a score at the 25 minute mark to put Fulham down 2-0.  Dickson Etuhu answered for the English side just over 10 minutes later, but that would be his team’s last gasp.  David Trezeguet scored in first half stoppage time to give Juventus a 3-0 halftime lead which would become the final tally following a scoreless second half.

Afterwards, Fulham manager Roy Hodgson suggested that the third Juventus goal could prove to be a backbreaker for his side:

"Well, I would've had said we had a good chance if we would have come in at half time without conceding that third goal and we would have played the second half as we did, then I would have thought that our chances of progressing would have been very good. But now they have worsened because of that third goal, because for us to score two goals at home and not concede is going to be a very difficult task.”

"There's no doubt we weren't favourites before tonight's game and we are even less favourites at 1-3 for the second leg but it will be an exciting second leg for us and for our public. I've certainly seen stranger things happen in my career so the players, I'm sure, will be looking forward to trying to turn the game around and I am sure that they will be doing their very best to do that.''

Fulham now heads on the road to face English Premier League leading Manchester United before the rematch with Juventus at Craven Cottage next Thursday.  Fulham said his team would give a good account despite the difficulty of the challenge:

"We certainly weren't disgraced in any way here today.  It will be a sold out tie at home so that will create an atmosphere. We will see what happens. The bitter pill to swallow and the bitter pill we're going to be carrying for the next week is that third goal, which I thought was very unnecessary. We had possession of the ball in their half and there was one minute left to play and I think we should have come in at 2-1.''