2218 OK, that's it from us, roll on the Champions League final and thank heavens for the World Cup, so we'll only have to suffer a few weeks without football this summer. Thanks for sticking with us, good night and good luck.
2214 It's all over in Hamburglerville - Atletico Madrid have won the UEFuropA League Cup. It was a terrific game, very entertaining, chances at both ends and both teams playing decent football. The difference, as Mark Lawrenson points out on the box, were Madrid's strikers - Sergio Aguero and Diego Forlan, who were constant threats with the ball at their feet. Real skill and the Uruguayan's eye for goal earned their side the win. Fulham - amazing wins against the odds throughout the competition only to be denied right at the death. Such is football.
Result: Atletico Madrid 2-1 Fulham
Injury time Fulham get their chance - two solid crosses whipped in, but well cleared. The ball breaks loose for Gera in the box, but he's offside.
120 mins Two minutes of injury time, but Madrid have the ball.
119 mins Long, slow walk off by Aguero as he's subbed to waste precious seconds.
117 mins Forlan's effort looks to have going wide of the post, but it bounced in off the covering Hangeland's thigh. O football, the cruellest mistress.
116 mins Heartbreaker. Aguero chases down a lost cause, keeps it in. Hughes backs off and off, leaving Aguero loads of time and room to flick it into the path of the in-rushing Forlan, who clips it in past the diving Schwarzer from point blank range.
GOAL FOR ATLETICO MADRID
115 mins Five minutes until penalty drama folks! Both teams working really hard, but they're definitely very tired and short of ideas.
113 mins Davies gets clear in the corner and tries to find Nevland in the box. The Norweigan pulls it out of the air and attempts a spectacular twisting volley, which is well over.
111 mins Smart ball into the box from the right for Madrid and Forlan - in acres of room - connects really well, but his effort zips over Schwarzer's goal.
109 mins And another chance for Murphy to float one in from deep as Dempsey is fouled in midfield. Wasn't much of a foul. Perhaps the ref felt the same, as he gives a soft foul the other way when Dempsey challenges the keeper in the air.
108 mins Another free chance for captain Danny Murphy wide left. It's whipped in towards Etuhu's head, but is well cleared.
107 mins Erik Nevland isn't provided as useful an outlet for Fulham as did Zamora and Gera. He running gamely, but he'd be of more use if he held it up in the opponent's half for a bit and give his teammates a chance to catch up. Having said that, he'll probably score now.
105 mins We're off again for the last bit of open play.
For anyone interested, Cardiff and Leicester are also in extra-time in the English Championship play-offs.
First period ET injury time Forlan skins Baird on the touchline again and lays the ball on a plate for either Jurado or Aguero, who both - somehow - manage to swing and miss from point blank range. Honestly, it was much, much easier to score there than miss, but miss they did. Whistle goes, 15 minutes left. Yikes!
105 mins Forlan puts his head down and powers into the box, he flicks it inside to Aguero, who takes his time and tries to push it wide of Konchesky and shoot. The left back stands up well and blocks the effort.
104 mins Both sides looking a little leggy now. Everyone's working hard, but the passes are getting longer and easier to cut out. Tired legs, tired minds, mistakes ahoy.
102 mins As we enter the world of three digits, Madrid carve out a real opportunity. Two crosses from either side fail to find the head of Aguero, but Forlan brings it down and fires it in low and hard - ideal on a wet night like this. Schwarzer gets down well, but the ball pops out into the six yard box. It's anybody's, but Etuhu is there to clear.
99 mins Free for Fulham some 40 yards out and Simon Davies tries his hand at a wonder strike, but manages to find the two-man wall.
98 mins Just like that, the balance shifts - great ball in from Aguero and Konchesky does really well to get in ahead on Jurado and head clear inside his own six yard box. More pressure straight after from Madrid B, but Hughes and Hangeland force it clear. The Fulham defence has been really solid this evening.
96 mins Balls over the top and down the wing are really working the Madrid defence and in particular Perea, who has worked hard to cut out runs from Dempsey and Nevland there.
94 mins Fulham have started well again this period, and Dempsey runs onto a clever long pass down the left, but he's shouldered out of it by Perea. Somehow, that's a free against Dempsey. Hmm. The 'fair shoulder' is sorely missed.
92 mins Nevland's clever wide run earns Fulham an early corner, which is comfortably gathered by De Gea.
90 mins We're off again. 30 minutes more action. Davies and Aguero both have ambitious cracks inside the first minute from distance, both are miles off target. Still, statement of intent, etc.
Good evening to Gerry in New York and thanks to all of you out there for your messages and for sticking with us. More drama awaits. I'm hoping for penalties, the best show in town.
Full time The whistle blows and the 22 players, soaked and pretty knackered-looking take to the sidelines for a brief kip.
Injury time Madrid probing around the edge of the box. They pass it this way and that, before Aguero gathers inside the box and throws himself to the ground. The ref is not fooled.
89 mins Nevland goes for the spectacular - trying to rifle it home from an acute angle outside the box. No hope and his effort is weak anyway. Van Basten only from there.
88 mins Danny Murphy's free skips off the top of a defender's head and out for a throw. Drat and double drat.
87 mins Ball bounces around at the edge of the Madrid box and Gera is pushed blatantly in the back. Less than 30 yards, slightly left of centre - big chance for the free.
86 mins TV3 commentator Trevor Welch has said 'don't want to make a mistake now,' or 'Fulham have to be careful' about 10 times in the last 10 minutes - he's setting up for an 'I told you so.' Boo-urns.
85 mins Sub for Fulham, Duffer leaves the fray and Erik Nevland comes on - his last game for Fulham before he heads home to Norway next season. Sign off with a spectacular winner chief.
83 mins Fulham looking less adventurous of late, perhaps mentally saving themselves for extra time. Madrid have certainly stepped up the pressure and are the only side going for the winner, it seems.
80 mins Corner for Madrid there, but Fulham are much, much taller than them and have dealt with everything aerial with ease. Strange moves from Madrid, they had much more success in the first half by keeping it on the deck and letting Aguero and Forlan run straight at the slow Hangeland. But they have chosen not to pursue this avenue, so we continue. Ten minutes left, extra time awaits, and maybe penalties - the ultimate drama.
77 mins It's really pretty wet in Hamburg tonight - the players have the 'drowned rat' style going strong. Not affecting the play too much though, decent passing from both sides still. Madrid's crosses are still coming in, but Hangeland is on the end of all of them so far.
Quick hello to Paul following us in Kenya and David in Boston, which is practically Ireland.
74 mins Aguero spins away from Etuhu and a lazy trip gives Madrid a decent free position just to the right of centre, 30 yards out. Aguero tries to curl it home and it's on target, bottom corner, but no pace and Schwarzer claims.
72 mins More even contest now - Madrid moving it wide and popping in decent crosses that are being cleared for now by giant Hangeland. But Fulham are breaking well, Dempsey and Gera holding it up on the ground, waiting for support. Could still go either way folks.
70 mins Nice bit of old Damien Duff there - he turns and runs at defenders, they back off, he fires in a nice crisp effort, a few feet wide of the post. More please.
69 mins Simao is substituted for Madrid B, and he has the mother of all sourpusses on him as he trudges off. If there was a pram, the toys would not be in it.
67 mins A couple of highly questionable, ie wrong, decisions from the ref in the last few minutes. Not sure if he took a blow to the head off camera, but Garcia wins the ball cleanly and is blown for a foul, then Davies is through down the left as his defender falls over, but he is blown up, despite being nowhere near the player. Reyes is upended uncerimoniously, but no whistle. Let us hope that the ref is not the man who decides the fate of this tie. Unless it's in Fulham's favour.
64 mins Not to suggest that Madrid B have vanished - they're still a threat and look lively on the break. But Fulham are closing them down much faster now and in numbers, while keeping the ball far better themselves.
61 mins Easy progress up the left, quality cross zipped in and the ball rebounds to the feet of Simon Davies, who cracks it low and hard on target. The Spanish keeper gets down really well to keep the scores level.
60 mins It's still largely Fulham in this second half. Madrid are defending really high up the park and opportunities to get in behind are there - a couple of narrow offside decisions have gone against them, but keep trying and they'll spring the trap soon enough.
57 mins Clint Dempsey enters the fray for Fulham, but their main threat heads off - Bobby Z's season is over, no World Cup for England's best target man. Declare for Ireland! Lots of Zamora's in Tullamore.
55 mins Absolute rhubarb after that chance - Gera ran through as the Spanish keeper slid in to claim, Gera's boot clips (barely) the top of the keeper's head and six Madrid players crowd him out of it pointing and throwing shapes. Infuriating jive. Come on Fulham.
53 mins Danny Murphy again - fantastic first time ball sends Gera clean through, but his first touch is one that will wake him up screaming tonight if they don't win. The ball flies off his boot all the way into the grateful arms of the keeper. He was completely free, behind the defenders, it was goal time.
50 mins Really nice possession there from Fulham. Must've been 20, 25 passes in Madrid's half, probing away before Danny Murphy's floated ball over the top finds Gera, who holds it up well and then Duff chips it in towards Zamora, but it's intercepted. Still, nice play.
48 mins Tidy enough start from the Cottagers, working it out of defence well, through the middle and then - nothing. Final ball-itis. But the ref seems happy to let most things go - Bobby Z was reefed aside there as the ball came in, not a flinch from the ref.
45 mins We are underway again in Hamburg. No changes either side.
2045 Great shout from Cillian - let's bring in Roy Hodgson when Il Trap decides to call it a day. Alas, I think that he may be eyeing Capello's seat with more interest.
2040 Martin Keown's hair is really creeping me out. He's either a serious candidate for hair plugs, or the recipient of the lowest-grade, back alley hair plug job in history. Also, the TV3 make-up crew has managed to make him look quite zombie-esque, like he's about to lean over and take a bite out of a nervous Phil Babb.
2035 Big hellos to Padraic in Norwich, Peter in Edmonton and Clint in Cork. Keep the emails coming, especially if you're an emigré checking back in on RTÉ.ie.
45 mins Half-time whistle, very welcome for Fulham. They really sat way, way back as though they were defending a late lead after their equaliser - not wise. They did manage to absorb the pressure for the rest of the half, but were fortunate not to concede a peno for Konchesky's discrete arm-ball.
44 mins Reyes zips a cross in from the right and it hits Konchesky in the 'chest' (his elbow, which was near his body), but penalty shouts are ignored. Lucky there. Forgotten quickly as it breaks to Forlan, who whips in a low strike that Schwarzer scrambles down to push wide.
43 mins Successive corners, constant possession for Madrid now. Pressure.
40 mins Since the Fulham goal, Madrid B are all up in their business and Fulham have dropped deeper. The Spaniards are passing it round, keeping it, probing - smart football. Fulham are way too deep, they can't just hope to hang on. They're not leading. Yet.
37 mins Get in! Bobby Z's sweet stepover frees him up for a shot, but scrambling defence and a sudden urge to go all Arsenal causes him to dally and play it out to Gera, who's closed down. It looks like the chance is gone, but it's chipped to the far post and Simon Davies, who's had enough volleying practice this evening already, catches it just right and in she flies. Game on!
GOAL FOR FULHAM
35 mins Almost had a second there as well - Aguero picks it up inside the Fulham half and drives straight at Hangeland, who is way too slow to handle the little Argentine. Aguero creates room for the shot, but it's a grubber and Schwarzer gathers easily. Fulham are under whatever the kosh is.
32 mins D'oh. Madrid B move it forward with alarming speed, one touch football shifting it up the field in no time, before Aguero fires in a weak effort from the edge of the box. It's going well wide, but Forlan gambled and taps the wayward shot in past the despairing Schwarzer. That's proper striking, I eat my words, Uruguayan goal machine.
GOAL FOR ATLETICO MADRID
31 mins The rain comes down in Hamburgerland, that's probably good for Fulham as their best form of attack so far - their only form - has been the long ball to Zamora.
29 mins And again - Aguero shimmies and whatever the opposite of shimmies is past the unhappy-looking Chris Baird and chips it into the six-yard box, but Hangeland gets there and heads clear. Aguero looks wicked dangerous and also has Baird and Hughes by the stones. Madrid should be getting him the ball all day.
27 mins Unbelievable tekkers from Sergio Aguero down the left wing - two Fulham defenders crowd him into the corner - he's nowhere to go. Or does he? Two short touches inside and he cuts between the pair, then fakes out a third defender, but his centre ball is blocked and cleared. Mad skillz.
25 mins Really good game here folks, both sides have calmed down and are now passing it round with confidence but also determination - both sides are moving it forward quickly and it's end-to-end. The ground is quite wet, so occasionally the ball is getting away from players, but by and large, good tekkers on show all round.
23 mins That's the Forlan I remember from Man United, 25 yards out, no one near him and he hammers it sky high into row ZZ.
21 mins And another chance there for Davies, from more or less the same spot just outside the box, the Welshman has essentially the same chance and he's learned - he gets his foot over the ball this time and lashes it on target, but the young keeper is in the right place to gather.
19 mins It's been all Madrid so far, but tough opportunity fell for Simon Davies there - again, Bobby Z creates it with great use of his chest to sit up the ball for the Welsh winger. Admittedly, it's over waist high, won't come down and so Davies sends it well over.
17 mins Another chance for Madrid B. Etuhu scythes down an attacker and former Gunner Jose Antonio Reyes has a decent strike from the free, 25 yards out, right side. It heading top corner, but Schwarzer is there already and handles it with relative ease.
15 mins Bobby Z - so unlucky not to make England's World Cup squad. Every ball so far that's fired into him, he's made something of, either with delicate headers or excellent chest-downs. And he can score. Emile Heskey? Get out of it.
13 mins Chance - Danny Murphy weirdly plays in Sergio Aguero with a terrible pass, who charges at the Fulham back four before rolling it out to Forlan, whose strike is crisp and shaves the outside of the post. Inches.
11 mins Gera snicks it away from an overly calm Madrid defender and sets Bobby Z free inside the box - but he's offside. He drags his shot well wide after whistle anyway, just to lull the 'keeper into a false sense of security. Cunning.
8 mins Madrid B have calmed it down and are stroking it (the ball) around the park nicely now. Aguero spins Simon Davies and is away, but his next touch is too heavy. First corner of the game for Madrid B too and Fulham aren't too clever in clearing it - some nerves from the London side.
5 mins First hint of Fulham attack there - long ball forward from Konchesky finds Bobby Z's head, lovely knockdown to Zoltan Gera, whose shot is a daisy-cutter, ie, pants.
3 mins For two skilled footballing sides, the ball is spending a lot of time high in the sky at the outset.
1945 We are underway. Bobby Z does not score straight away like he did in an earlier round.
1940 Here we go, the teams take to the pitch, accompanied by a miniature version of the two sides marching out beside them. It's that odd breed of child, the 'mascot'. Football would be even more fun if the 22 little mites were let loose on the pitch during the game for maximum lunacy. Don't rule it out, FIFA are crazy. But not crazy enough to use video replays. Grr.
1935 TV3 presenter and part-time vampire Tommy Martin emerges from the shadows to introduce this evening's television coverage and drown us in nonsense stats and the blonde girl who reads out texts is there too. Count Martin gives guest pundit Martin Keown an unusual intro by listing his littany of European defeats and then adds that 'Phil Babb is here as well.' Phil is also wearing a shirt that's in danger of having a picnic unfurl on it.
1930 Kick-off's at 7.45 by the by, when all that twattle will cease and we'll get down to proper football commentary of a wildly biased nature. Anyone e-joining us from far afield, give us a shout at sportonline@rte.ie.
1925 Speaking of major European finals, next season's UEFA Cup final will be held down the road from where I am in Lansdowne Road. Which I can probably see if walk to a suitable window. But until they link my brain to this computer so I don't have to type anymore, that's not happening. Anyway, awesome that it'll be in Dublin. Chances of a home team making the decider are slim, but let's hope we get a couple of under-performing Champions League early casualties in the final.
1920 So the final's in Hamburg and the home side were all on their way to a home final in a major European competition - a rare treat. Then Fulham came over and knocked them out at the last hurdle. Or penultimate hurdle maybe - the semi-final. So where would you stand on this if you were a Hamburgler? Do you want the team that knocked your team out to go on and win it so you can say your team was knocked out by the eventual champions? Or is the bitter taste of defeat too strong to forget and you boo the bejaysis out of them? Valid question, as I'd say there will be a stackload of Hamburgers in Das Stadion tonight.
1915 So as you can see (unless you've a remarkably narrow field of vision) injury doubts Damien Duff and Bobby Zamora both start for Fulham, while the other Madrid team front up with Diego Forlan and Sergio Aguero. Forlan is the blondie who was muck at Man United, but moved to Spain and won the Golden Boot twice. And Aguero is deadly, in both senses of the word. So it will be no cakewalk for the Cottagers, but they wouldn't have it any other way! Putting it out there, this commentary will be very pro-Fulham this evening. Atletico will be referred to as Madrid B.
1910 The teams are in:
Fulham: Schwarzer, Baird, Hughes, Hangeland, Konchesky, Duff, Etuhu, Murphy, Davies, Gera, Zamora.
Subs: Zuberbuhler, Pantsil, Nevland, Riise, Dempsey, Greening, Dikgacoi.
Atletico Madrid: De Gea, Ujfalusi, Perea, Dominguez, Antonio Lopez, Reyes, Paulo Assuncao, Raul Garcia, Simao, Forlan, Aguero. Subs: Joel, Valera, Camacho, Jurado, Salvio, Juanito, Cabrera.
1905 Fairytales tend to have happy endings and Fulham have progressed through the final relatively quietly this year, like a sneaky sneaker sneaking away. But all eyes are on them now and Roy Hodgson - manager of the year, officially - has one more coup to pull off. But recent surprising UEFA Cup runs for British teams have not ended well. Two years ago Rangers were run ragged by Zenit St Petersburg in the final. Steve McClaren's Middlesbrough were also put to the sword by Sevilla in 2006 and I recall Celtic being edged out by Porto in 2003. Can Fulham buck the trend? Can I stop ending posts with questions? Apparently not?
1900 Welcome one and all to that most unexpected of football feasts, a major final starring Fulham. The Cottagers look to lift the UEFA Cup (Europa League - humbug) trophy in Hamburg this evening after a spellbinding European campaign that has seen off the likes of defending champions Shakhtar Donetsk, last year's German champs Wolfsburg and - in one of the most amazing games I've seen in years - Italian giants Juventus. Can they overcome Liverpool's conquerors Atletico Madrid tonight?
