OOC WARNING: Another match write-up, this should be long. Again, this is a warning if you don't like long-winded posts. 
UEFA Europa League 3rd Qualifying Round 2nd Leg (Fulham leads 2-0 on aggregate)
Referee: Jochen Drees (GER)
Welcome to the GSP Stadium in beautiful Nicosia in Cyprus. Tonight we're here for the 2nd leg of the 3rd Qualifying Round tie between Omonia Nicosia and Fulham FC. Fulham take a 2-0 aggregate lead into this match by virtue of their dominant performance at Craven Cottage. On that note, let's see what both teams have to offer as far as starting elevens go.
Omonia Nicosia
Manager: Neofytos Larkou (CYP)
Freddy ---- Andre Alves
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Bergougnoux ---- Leandro ---- Salatic ---- Makridis
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Ben-Dayan ---- Bouzon ---- Karypidis ---- Shpungin
Giorgallidis
SUBS: Jevric (GK), T. Kyprou, Avraam, S. Cherfa, D. Christofi, Aloneftis, Renato Margaca
Fulham
Manager: Tom Delgado (USA)
Dembele ---- A. Johnson
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B. Ruiz ---- Murphy ---- Sidwell ---- C. Zuniga
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Matthew Briggs ---- Hughes ---- Hangeland ---- Grygera
Schwarzer
SUBS: Stockdale (GK), Halliche, Senderos, J. Arne Riise, Baird, Dempsey, Pogrebnyak
It's a slightly different look for the Cottagers, who seem to be experimenting a bit as they try to get ready for the Barclays Premier League season. Either way, this is a must-win for Omonia, and they must make sure Fulham do not score to give themselves the best chance of winning the tie and advancing.
KICK OFF: Fulham kick off, and we're underway at GSP.
10th Minute:
GOAL!!! It's the visitors who strike first, exactly what Omonia did NOT want! Dembele ran onto a beautiful pass from Danny Murphy, and it was all too easy for Dembele to make some space and put it into the net. The tie is already just about over and we're only in the 10th minute! Omonia 0, Fulham 1 (0-3 agg.)
17th Minute:
GOAL!!! If it was almost over 7 minutes ago, it's completely over now. A costly mistake by Ben-Dayan to turn the ball over in his own half to Andy Johnson. When you give a quality striker like Andy Johnson that kind of gift, he's not going to put it in the closet and wait until Christmas to open it! Instead, he'll open it right now and laugh at you for making it way too easy for him! Omonia pay the price, and I'd say the tie is in the bag. Omonia 0, Fulham 2 (0-4 agg.)
30th Minute:
GOAL!!! What's this? An actual Omonia attack? Wait a minute...Schwarzer's sleeping, wake up mate! Too late! Leandro grabs a goal back for the home side after a wonderful run off the pass from Andre Alves. The shot came low towards the goal, and Schwarzer was probably still a bit groggy from the last match and his 90 minute nap so he missed it completely. Omonia are gonna need a lot more than that to beat Fulham in this tie though. Omonia 1, Fulham 2 (1-4 agg.)
36th Minute:
GOAL!!! It's raining goals here at GSP! Now Omonia are back in the eye of the storm, as Bryan Ruiz is making up for all those unlucky shots back at Craven Cottage. Nice passes from Zuniga and Murphy gave Ruiz a wonderful opportunity, and this time, Ruiz has his scoring boots on! Low towards the goal, Giorgallidis was rooted to his spot, and offered absolutely no resistance. Maybe it's time to go to the backup, guys. Omonia 1, Fulham 3 (1-5 agg.)
45th Minute + 2:
GOAL!!! Okay, now it's getting ugly. It's an own goal as Bouzon tried to take the ball away from Johnson in the penalty area, but it somehow ends up in the back of his own net! It goes down as an own goal, and that just about sums it up in the first half for Omonia. One stroke of brilliance from Leandro, the rest of the team seems defeated already. This isn't gonna help matters. Omonia 1, Fulham 4 (1-6 agg.)
HALF TIME: Fulham go in with a huge lead in the match, and the aggregate. Expect Tom Delgado to pull some of his regulars that are already in and give players on the bench a chance to impress. As for Omonia, unless they've got a magical 6 goal comeback in them, they can focus on the Cypriot A Division. It's Omonia 1, Fulham 4 in the match, and Omonia 1, Fulham 6 in the aggregate.
Omonia 1 - 4 Fulham (1-6 agg.) - HT
2nd Half Changes: Fulham make 3 substitutions, apparently hearing us here on our live internet coverage. It's Senderos on for Hughes, Riise on for Bryan Ruiz, and Pavel Pogrebnyak runs on to replace Andy Johnson.
2nd Half KICKOFF: If Omonia have anything in them, they'll need to show it. They kick off.
58th Minute:
GOAL!!! Well, it's 5-1 Fulham. Omonia continues to crumble in the presence of relentless pressure from the Cottagers. It's an excellent through ball from Riise to Dembele, who used his superior pace to blaze by the Omonia defense, and place a superb shot past the goalkeeper, who looks like he could use a few pies at this point. That's Dembele's 2nd of the match, and it's Fulham's 5th. Omonia 1, Fulham 5 (1-7 agg.)
70th Minute:
GOAL!!! I sure hope Sky Sports didn't have Chris Kamara reporting on this match, because then he'd be subject to laughter from the SSN crew. Why? Easy. It's one of the guys whose name only Jeff Stelling can pronounce properly who gets on the scoresheet, Pavel Pogrebnyak! It's pronounced Po-greb-nee-ak! It was a half-volley from his right foot, and it's like the goalkeeper's not even trying anymore. Easily a saveable shot, but it ends up in the back of the net. Let's just say that Antonis Giorgallidis will not show up on Tom Delgado's shortlist anytime soon, because we may have had a homicide on the pitch if that was a Fulham player ******* it like that. Omonia 1, Fulham 6 (1-8 agg.)
FULL TIME: Thankfully, from that 6th goal on, Fulham took the foot off the gas, and actually let Omonia have one decent attack, but it came to nothing, and apparently we didn't see it because we had Dean Windass syndrome. Yes, we weren't concentrating. Then again, it's pretty easy to lose your focus when you're watching a drubbing like this. It's full time here at GSP, and it's been ugly if you're an Omonia Nicosia fan. If you're a Fulham fan, you're happy tonight because your team's advancing, and of the 12,034 in attendance, I'd say about 1,500 of them are leaving happy. Fulham travel pretty well, even for these lesser known ties. Omonia 1, Fulham 6 (1-8 agg.)
Omonia Nicosia 1 - 6 Fulham FC (Fulham win 8-1 on Aggregate) FT
UEFA Man of the Match: Moussa Dembele (Fulham)
Match Ratings
Schwarzer - 7.0 (Only had to make two saves, but made just one of them. In the second half, his napping was once again top caliber. He's a contender for the all-snooze team.)
Grygera - 7.8 (A very good game for him, marred by getting booked in the 85th minute with the game already long since over.)
Hangeland - 7.8 (The entire Fulham defense gets a gold star tonight. We'll give Hangeland two of them.)
Hughes - 6.8 (Came out at the half, so he loses his gold star to Hangeland. We'll give Hughes a few pies as a consolation prize though.)
Briggs - 7.7 (Excellent performance from the 20 year old. He could potentially stick on the squad this season, and it's great to see.)
Zuniga - 8.6 (An extremely impressive debut for the former Napoli man. Grabbed himself an assist, and almost had a goal for himself as well. Definitely more to come from Fulham's new star.)
Sidwell - 7.6 (He came up lame late in the proceedings with a knock. We're not sure how severe it is, but we'll find out in a day or so. Good performance though.)
Murphy - 9.3 (3 assists isn't anything to sneeze at, no matter who you play. Splendid performance from the 34-year old fan favourite.)
Ruiz - 8.1 (Got to take an early shower tonight, and was grateful for it. Scored a goal too, so he'll sleep well tonight.)
Johnson - 7.5 (Probably should have gotten credit for the own goal, but he won't sneeze at a goal and an early night. He'll be ready for the Premier League opener for sure.)
Dembele - 9.3 (Your UEFA man of the match. With two goals, I'd say he earned it, but you can make a really strong case for Murphy. Either way, great performance.)
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Senderos - 6.8 (Had nothing to do. Oh well, at least he seemed to enjoy the runout.)
J. Arne Riise - 7.0 (Nabbed an assist late in the proceedings, so it was a very productive 45 minutes of football.)
Pogrebnyak - 7.3 (Scored off the bench. Made a pretty strong case to feature in Tom Delgado's plans this season.)
