It's Atletico vs Fulham in Europa League final after Spaniards advance on away goals while Hamburg go down 1-2 at Craven cottage

Liverpool crash out of Europa League

It's Atletico vs Fulham in Europa League final after Spaniards advance on away goals while Hamburg go down 1-2 at Craven cottage

Atletico's Diego Forlan celebrates after his crucial away goal ensured the Spaniards advance into the final of the Europa League despite a 1-2 defeat to Liverpool in last night's semi-final second leg at Anfield, Liverpool.

Fulham manager Roy Hodgson saluted his side's unbreakable spirit as they completed a remarkable run to make it to the May 12 final with a 2-1 win over Hamburg at Craven Cottage.

The unfashionable Premier League team were heading out of the competition with 21 minutes to play in the semi-final second leg.u00a0

However Hodgson's men, who lost leading scorer Bobby Zamora to injury early in the second half, dug deep to recover from Mladen Petric's first half goal thanks to late strikes from Simon Davies and Zoltan Gera.

The Cottagers had already eliminated holders Shakhtar Donetsk, Italian giants Juventus and German champions Wolfsburg in a fairytale journey this far.

Fulham have never won a major honour at home or abroad, but they will play in a first European final, against Atletico at Hamburg's Nordbank Arena on May 12.

Meanwhile, at Anfield, Diego Forlan's 102nd minute strike in extra-time ended Liverpool's hopes of a first
trophy in four years as Rafa Benitez's side were denied a place in the final by Atletico Madrid on the away goals rule.

On a dramatic night, Yossi Benayoun's 95th minute goal, which gave the hosts a 2-1 semi-final aggregate advantage, looked to have booked Liverpool a place in their third European final in six seasons.

Trailing 1-0 from the first leg, Alberto Aquilani had levelled the aggregate scores with a sublime finish before Benayoun struck early in extra time.

But former Manchester United striker Forlan, whose goal gave Atletico a narrow 1-0 lead from the first leg, sent the Spaniards through.

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