Legwinski to rescue for Fulham

Bologna 2 Fulham

Fulham twice battled back from behind to take a draw away from Bologna in the first leg of their Intertoto Cup final-round tie.

The Italians scored through two Giuseppe Signori penalties, but the Japanese World Cup hero Junichi Inamoto scored the first Fulham equaliser just two minutes after taking to the field and then Sylvain Legwinski earned Jean Tigana's team a draw five minutes from the end.

Both teams drew a blank in a scrappy first half which the home side edged. Tigana had left the striker Louis Saha on the bench, preferring a front two of Barry Hayles and Luis Boa Morte, but neither could make an impression on a well-organised Bologna back line, and Giuseppe Pagliuca was hardly tested in goal.

In attack for Bologna, the former Italy striker Signori was posing problems for Andy Melville and Alain Goma. Fulham went behind in the 56th minute when Signori tucked away a penalty to the left of Edwin van der Saar, but it was a short-lived lead.

Seeking more creativity, Tigana brought on Inamoto and he quickly proved his summer exploits for Japan were no fluke. The midfielder, who replaced Steed Malbranque in the 60th minute, scored the leveller two minutes later.

It was a stunning way to make an impact, but Bologna regained their lead with 15 minutes left. Captain Signori, one of Serie A's all-time record scorers, fired another spot-kick to the right of the Dutchman Van der Saar.

Yet Fulham, who beat Haka, Egaleo and Sochaux in previous rounds, were not to be beaten and Legwinski struck the ball home after 85 minutes when substitute Saha failed to apply a decisive touch.

Their never-say-die attitude perhaps makes Fulham slight favourites to reach the Uefa Cup first round when they face the Italians again at Loftus Road on 27 August.

Bologna: Pagliuca, Zaccardo, Olive, Castellini, Nervo, Colucci, Julio Cruz, Signori, Smit, Falcone, Goretti. Substitutes: Coppola (gk), Gamberini, Bellucci, Locatelli, Brioschi, Meghni, Arbito.

Fulham: Van der Sar, Ouaddou, Brevett, Melville, Goma, Legwinski, Marlet, Malbranque, Hayles, Davis, Boa Morte. Substitutes: Taylor (gk), Collins, Inamoto, Saha, Knight, Leacock, Sava.

Referee: E Gonzalez (Spain).