Fulham find no way past Haka

Fulham 0 FC Haka

Steve Tongue
Sunday 07 July 2002 00:00 BST
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Six days after the World Cup final, a new domestic football season began yesterday afternoon in west London. It was not just like watching Brazil, but very much like watching Fulham, who, as so often in the past 11 months, had nothing to show for abundant possession and numerous chances. It may be harsh to make judgements on 90 minutes after so little preparation, but their new Argentinian striker, Facundo Sava, did not look like the solution to that problem.

There is no reason, however, why Jean Tigana's team, often more effective away from home, should not win in Finland next weekend and progress to the third round of the Uefa Intertoto Cup, at which stage the other English representatives, Aston Villa, would join them. That round's home leg would also be played at Craven Cottage, due for demolition, but still awaiting the builders.

Haka, second only to HJK in terms of Finnish titles won, were one tie away from competing in the group section of last season's Champions' League. Unfortunately, the tie was against Liverpool, who trounced them 5-0 in the away leg, with the benefit of Michael Owen's hat-trick, and 4-1 at Anfield.

With the Russian striker Valery Popovich, like Dennis Bergkamp a non-flyer, staying at home, they left the tall Hungarian Peter Kovacs on his own in attack for long periods. Two wide midfielders, Sami Ristila and Mikko Inanen, were supposed to support him, but found themselves occupied with defensive duties.

It took Fulham the best part of half-an-hour to find some rhythm, after which they should have taken the lead before half-time. After John Collins pulled a shot wide and Sean Davis hit a rising drive too high, Steve Marlet's effort from 20 yards was touched on to the top of the crossbar by the Polish goalkeeper Mihail Slawuta. Steed Malbranque, as ever, was at the heart of Fulham's best work, making three chances in quick succession. He set up Davis, who was thwarted by the goalkeeper's left hand; fed Sava, who could do no better than hit the side-netting; and forced Slawuta to save well, though Sava might have turned in the rebound.

The visitors' first threatening attack, at the start of the second half, would have produced a goal if Kovacs had managed a more powerful header at the far post from Innanen's cross. As it was, Maik Taylor, deputising for Edwin van der Sar, needed two grabs at the ball.

Louis Saha had a drive deflected on to the bar, and Marlet a header well blocked by the goalkeeper before Tigana decided on a first change. Barry Hayles replaced Sava, so Fulham were briefly back to the attacking trio who too often failed to turn territorial superiority into goals last season. Only briefly, because Marlet soon made way for Luis Boa Morte.

The best effort in a disappointing final half-hour came from Abdeslam Ouaddou, a centre-back playing at right-back. His glancing header from Malbranque's free-kick necessitated an instinctive save from Slawuta.

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