Fairy-tale Fulham through to final

Fulham, in the fourth tier of English soccer just 13 years ago, completed their fairy-tale run to the Europa League final with a 2-1 win over Hamburg SV at Craven Cottage last night.

Their opponents in the final will be Atletico Madrid who knocked out Liverpool on the away goals' rule despite losing yesterday's second leg 2-1 at Anfield.

At Craven Cottage, well-taken late goals in the semi-final second leg from Simon Davies and Zoltan Gera on 69 and 76 minutes sealed a 2-1 aggregate win and a place in the May 12 final in Hamburg.

Croatian striker Mladen Petric stunned the home side with a vicious 30-metre free-kick after 22 minutes that Fulham keeper Mark Schwarzer could only watch as it sailed into his net.

"It just keeps getting better doesn't it," captain Danny Murphy told ITV. "It would have been easy to think this was the end of the journey but I thought the spirit we showed in the second half was tremendous.

"Look what it means to everyone - it's amazing," added Murphy as the London club's fans went wild with delight. "We have come a long way."

Match-winner Gera said: "That was the most important goal I've ever scored so I'm very happy".

Roy Hodgson paid tribute to chairman Mohamed Al Fayed.

"The time at Fulham has been quite magical for me," the much-travelled manager said.

"From the moment I came in I established an immediate rapport with the chairman who has been very good during my time here. He's given us the backing we need."

The former Inter and Switzerland manager also thanked the London club's players and supporters after their 2-1 aggregate victory in the semi-finals.

"Tonight is a reward for the fans who have supported us so well over the last two years and it's certainly for all those really faithful Fulham fans who have seen some bad times through the years," said Hodgson.

"I know the players are never going to let me down. Football is an emotional game so in a semi-final they could be excused for losing their heads or discipline but they didn't do it tonight."

Fulham also beat Bundesliga champions VfL Wolfsburg, Italian giants Juventus and 2009 UEFA Cup winners Shakhtar Donetsk earlier in the competition.

Atletico Madrid striker Diego Forlan scored against Liverpool for the second time in a week to end the Merseysiders' dreams of a third European final in five years.

The former Manchester United forward, who hit the only goal in the first leg, stabbed home the crucial extra-time away goal which booked their place in May's Europa League final despite a 2-1 defeat at Anfield.

Trailing 1-0 from the first leg, Alberto Aquilani had levelled the aggregate scores with a sublime finish a minute before half-time.

Having struggled to adapt to his new surroundings since signing from Roma in August, Aquilani at least proved he knows how to find the net with a terrific 15-yard strike following Benayoun's cross.

The timing of Aquilani's first European goal for his club could not have been better.

Benayoun thought he had won it for the hosts with a fine finish from an acute angle following Lucas's ball over the top of the Atletico defence.

But in the 102nd minute Atletico scored a vital away goal when Reyes beat Johnson to cross for the unmarked Forlan to stab home.