Svensson turns disaster into delight for Saints

Fulham 2 Southampton

Two up with 10 minutes to play, Fulham had their claws on the three points, even with a maverick Argentinian in goal. Then the roof fell in, helped on its way by James Beattie with his 20th goal of the season, and the demolition job was completed in bizarre fashion deep into injury time. Southampton's keeper, Antti Niemi, charged upfield, Schmeichel fashion, for a corner to deliver a vicious shot which rebounded from the junction of post and bar. In the flailing mêlée which followed it was appropriate that Michael Svensson should be the one to prod the equaliser, since he had earlier been the author of the own-goal which put Fulham 2-0 ahead.

It will be of no consolation whatever to Fulham that this was their eighth straight home game unbeaten. This was a match they should have won. The fact that for almost all of the first half the exchanges were dire was only partly due to a poor surface and a lively ball, but whenever things became lacklustre there was always Martin Herrera, Fulham's third-choice keeper, who was making his first start.

Signed on a free transfer from the Spanish club Alaves, Herrera is an Argentinian, and though that country has produced an outstanding player or two it is not the South American fashion to deal in goalkeeping brilliance.

Herrera mixed the excellent with the eccentric, and his darting forays from goal tended to confuse friend and foe alike. At the other end, Niemi made two excellent saves from Steve Marlet when Fulham eventually managed to string a few passes together, but it was Herrera who looked much the likelier to let one in, until two minutes from the interval. Then Steed Malbranque, whose pace and guile were a constant worry to Southampton, crossed for Louis Saha to drive a right-footed volley just inside the upright.

Seconds after the resumption Southampton enjoyed some luck as Jason Dodd's back-pass bounced awkwardly and Niemi headed it against his own bar before clearing. They did not have long to enjoy that escape, however. In the 51st minute Malbranque robbed the lacklustre Fabrice Fernandes, who was removed soon afterwards, and sent Saha haring to the byline. The low cross fell into the stride of Svensson, hastening back into his six-yard box, and the impetus was enough to send the loose ball over the line.

It could have been three if Claus Lundekvam had not got a toe to the substitute Inamoto's centre to steer it away from Saha's reach. Even so, Fulham seemed home and dry, especially with Dodd limping off with ankle damage.

Still, there were always the antics of Herrera to offer hope, and with 10 minutes to go Martin Djetou opted to head Wayne Bridge's cross out for a corner. This was placed so accurately by Matt Oakley that Beattie's far-post header was a formality, and he is now level with Thierry Henry on 19 Premiership goals in the Golden Boot race.

In injury time, Herrera's fantastic leap to turn Jo Tessem's vicious volley over seemed to have ensured the win for Fulham. But the Oakley corner was driven in by Kevin Davies and repelled only as far as Niemi. Back came the shot off the woodwork for Svensson to redeem himself with one of the unlikeliest equalisers of the season.

Fulham 2
Saha 44, M Svensson og 52

Southampton 2
Beattie 81, M Svensson 90

Half-time: 1-0 Attendance: 18,031