Two late Everton strikes shatter Fulham

A FIRST goal in Fulham colours from Bryan Ruiz became an almost irrelevant footnote after a crazy finale at the Cottage where two goals at the death sank the Whites.

Louis Saha, once a great favourite in these parts, poached a goal on the break moments after Bobby Zamora spurned a golden opportunity to put Fulham ahead. Then Jack Rodwell plundered a third deep into injury time when the Whites failed to clear a free-kick.

It was a shattering end for Martin Jol's men, who surely deserved at least a draw on the balance of play in an open and exciting match. But like last week at Stoke, they were badly undone in the final minutes.

The script looked tailor-made for Ruiz (pictured). The Costa Rican endured a nightmare debut for the Whites a few weeks ago when he was embarrassingly withdrawn at half time.

He has not even had the chance to repair the damage in the Europa League, since he is cup-tied in that competition.

But he produced a moment of real class that could really kick-start his career at the club.

Barely three minutes after coming on for Danny Murphy, the striker drifted into the area to collect a short pass from Clint Dempsey before floating a perfect chip over keeper Tim Howard and into the net.

Ruiz almost made it an even better sub cameo – volleying into the legs of Howard at the far post past three minutes from time.

But then it all unravelled. First Zamora took delivery of a short pass from Andrew Johnson and waltzed around the keeper, but with the goal at his mercy, the striker inexplicably fired over.

Then Everton raced to the other end and Saha broke Fulham hearts – having come close to doing so earlier, when only a fine instinctive save from Mark Schwarzer denied him.

Rodwell's strike after Fulham failed to deal with a free-kick needlesly conceded by Chris Baird rubbed salt into a raw wound.

Fulham – predictably very different from the midweek line-up in Krakow - got off to the worst possible start when Roysten Drenthe curled in a superb low left footer beyond Schwarzer from 25 yards.

The chance arouse when Danny Murphy was caught in possession by Marouane Fellaini – the ball running on to Rodwell, who touched back for the goalscorer to do his stuff.

Dutchman Drenthe, on loan from Real Madrid, was very bright in the opening exchanges and typified an adventurous approach from Davd Moyes' team.

The Whites might even have been 2-0 down before they got going – the unmarked Rodwell heading over from seven yards after being picked out by Leighton Baines, while Apostopolos Vellios also missed a good chance.

But the Whites worked up a head of steam as the first half progressed, with Murphy's rasping drive smacking off the inside of Howard's right hand post and Clint Dempsey then having a low shot smothered by his USA compatriot in the Everton goal.

It suggested the Whites would get something from the game, but it was not to be.

Line-up: Schwarzer; Grygera (Hughes 90), Baird, Hangeland, Riise; Dempsey, Sidwell, Murphy (Ruiz 65), Dembele; Zamora, Johnson. Subs not used: Eheridge, Kelly, Duff, Etuhu, Frei.

Attendance: 25,646