Europa League 09/10: Fulham almost through to last 32 and round-up

Fulham kept their Europa League dreams alive with a narrow 1-0 victory over CSKA Sofia at Craven Cottage.

Todor Timonov hit the crossbar for the visitors with a long-range effort on five minutes before Zolten Gera won a penalty for the Cottagers soon afterwards having being felled by Ivan Ivanov in the box.

But Danny Murphy, on his return from six weeks out with a knee injury, skied the resulting spot kick well over.

However, Gera put the Cottagers ahead after 14 minutes when nodding home from Bjorn Helge Riise’s cross from the right.

In the second period, CSKA came far more into the game and substitute Damien Duff had to clear fellow substitute Kosta Yanev’s shot off the line with 10 minutes to play.

Yanez then headed just wide with five minutes to go as the Cottagers held on for the vital win.

It means Roy Hodgson’s side must win in Basel on 16th December in their last group game to progress into the last 32.

Roma booked a place in the knockout stages of the Europa League after they beat Basel 2-1.

The defeat leaves Basel needing to avoid defeat in their final match against Fulham to go through.

Goals from Francesco Totti and Mirko Vucinic for Roma cancelled out Benjamin Huggel’s first-half strike.

Werder Bremen guaranteed top spot in Group L of the Europa League with a victory which eliminated CD Nacional, and Athletic Bilbao won at FK Austria Vienna to progress.

Thomas Schaaf’s Bundesliga highflyers Werder knew a win would sew up their position at the summit and recorded a 4-1 success over Nacional at the Weserstadion.

Athletic Bilbao sit second and progressed after comfortably winning 3-0 at FK Austria Vienna, with defender Mikel San Jose (62) scoring in between two goals from Fernando Llorente (19 and 84).