were left wondering what might have been after seeing a red card for spark a fightback in their Europa League Group H clash in the Italian capital.
The English side led at half-time through Diomansy Kamara's penalty on 18 minutes, but Nevland - who had only just replaced the injured Kamara at half-time - was stunned to see referee Kevin Blom produce a red card for a sliding challenge on Roma captain Danielle De Rossi.
It gave Roma the encouragement they needed, and two goals in eight minutes from John Arne Riise and then Chuka Okaka swung the game in the Italian club's favour. Paul Konchesky was also dismissed by referee Blom in injury time.
This result means that the Giallorossi supplant Fulham in second place in the group with two games remaining, trailing leaders Basel by a point. Fulham drop to third, but can take heart from their display. Roma, however, will argue that they dominated both possession and chances and thus fully deserved their win.
The Lupi introduced Daniele De Rossi and Julio Baptista back to the starting line-up, with Mirko Vucinic leading the line in the absence of Francesco Totti.
Meanwhile Fulham manager Roy Hodgson made three changes from the side that defeated Liverpool 3-1 on Premier League business last Saturday, with midfield trio Zoltan Gera, Bjorn Helge Riise and Dickson Etuhu replacing Damien Duff, Chris Baird and Bobby Zamora.
With the Stadio Olimpico sparsely populated at kick-off, the players also seemed slightly subdued in the opening stages. It was nine minutes before a half chance developed, and Roma captain Daniele De Rossi sharply charged down Bjorn Helge Riise’s effort from 16 yards.
Clint Dempsey decided to try his luck from fully 30 yards on 17 minutes, but his bobbling shot bounced straight into the arms of Roma goalkeeper Doni.
Within a minute, though, Fulham were granted a much better chance. Dempsey cut the ball back on the right side of the box and as Kamara shifted it onto his left foot, his right was swept from him by Marco Andreolli, who was booked for the challenge. Kamara, who moments earlier looked as though he was going to be substituted due to an injury, stepped up and sent Doni the wrong way with the penalty.
It sent the traveling Fulham support wild, but the size of their task in holding on was soon made apparent. Cicinho bought a yard of space on the right flank in the 24th minute and swung over a wonderfully inviting cross that a leaping Philippe Mexes only narrowly failed to head on target.
There was further encouragement though on the half-hour mark. A swift counterattack allowed Kamara to send Dempsey through on goal, but as he cut inside onto his right foot, the chance was lost and Andreolli stepped in to clear. Within moments, the ball was in the Fulham penalty area, but Julio Baptista’s overhead kick attempt was not on target.
Fulham were looking dangerous every time they came forward, and a beautifully flighted cross from Konchesky in the 37th minute found Kamara wide open beyond the far post, but the striker could not trouble Doni with his header.
Roma then felt they should have had a penalty of their own with four minutes to go in the first half. From a short corner, Mexes blasted in a right-footed shot that struck a bewildered John Pantsil on the arm. However, the referee, and his assistants both on the touchline and behind the Fulham goal, decided there was no intent on the Fulham defender’s part.
The English side led at half-time through Diomansy Kamara's penalty on 18 minutes, but Nevland - who had only just replaced the injured Kamara at half-time - was stunned to see referee Kevin Blom produce a red card for a sliding challenge on Roma captain Danielle De Rossi.
It gave Roma the encouragement they needed, and two goals in eight minutes from John Arne Riise and then Chuka Okaka swung the game in the Italian club's favour. Paul Konchesky was also dismissed by referee Blom in injury time.
This result means that the Giallorossi supplant Fulham in second place in the group with two games remaining, trailing leaders Basel by a point. Fulham drop to third, but can take heart from their display. Roma, however, will argue that they dominated both possession and chances and thus fully deserved their win.
The Lupi introduced Daniele De Rossi and Julio Baptista back to the starting line-up, with Mirko Vucinic leading the line in the absence of Francesco Totti.
Meanwhile Fulham manager Roy Hodgson made three changes from the side that defeated Liverpool 3-1 on Premier League business last Saturday, with midfield trio Zoltan Gera, Bjorn Helge Riise and Dickson Etuhu replacing Damien Duff, Chris Baird and Bobby Zamora.
With the Stadio Olimpico sparsely populated at kick-off, the players also seemed slightly subdued in the opening stages. It was nine minutes before a half chance developed, and Roma captain Daniele De Rossi sharply charged down Bjorn Helge Riise’s effort from 16 yards.
Clint Dempsey decided to try his luck from fully 30 yards on 17 minutes, but his bobbling shot bounced straight into the arms of Roma goalkeeper Doni.
Within a minute, though, Fulham were granted a much better chance. Dempsey cut the ball back on the right side of the box and as Kamara shifted it onto his left foot, his right was swept from him by Marco Andreolli, who was booked for the challenge. Kamara, who moments earlier looked as though he was going to be substituted due to an injury, stepped up and sent Doni the wrong way with the penalty.
It sent the traveling Fulham support wild, but the size of their task in holding on was soon made apparent. Cicinho bought a yard of space on the right flank in the 24th minute and swung over a wonderfully inviting cross that a leaping Philippe Mexes only narrowly failed to head on target.
There was further encouragement though on the half-hour mark. A swift counterattack allowed Kamara to send Dempsey through on goal, but as he cut inside onto his right foot, the chance was lost and Andreolli stepped in to clear. Within moments, the ball was in the Fulham penalty area, but Julio Baptista’s overhead kick attempt was not on target.
Fulham were looking dangerous every time they came forward, and a beautifully flighted cross from Konchesky in the 37th minute found Kamara wide open beyond the far post, but the striker could not trouble Doni with his header.
Roma then felt they should have had a penalty of their own with four minutes to go in the first half. From a short corner, Mexes blasted in a right-footed shot that struck a bewildered John Pantsil on the arm. However, the referee, and his assistants both on the touchline and behind the Fulham goal, decided there was no intent on the Fulham defender’s part.
