Fulham moved one step closer to the Europa League semifinals by beating German champion Wolfsburg 2-1 on Thursday.
Bobby Zamora and Damien Duff netted second-half goals for the English Premier League side in the quarterfinal first-leg at Craven Cottage.
But Alexander Madlung grabbed a crucial away goal for Wolfsburg going into next Thursday's second leg.
Fulham ousted Juventus in the competition two weeks ago, but had lost all three domestic fixtures since that 4-1 victory.
Fulham manager Roy Hodgson kept Zamora out of training this week and sent him home on Wednesday due to illness. But Zamora looked to be in top form as he caused trouble in the Wolfsburg defense all night, playing a role in both of goals.
The striker scored the first goal in the 59th minute, then set up Duff four minutes later.
Goalkeeper Mark Schwarzer also had an impressive night against Wolfsburg's prolific attack, which has 52 goals in just 28 Bundesliga matches this season. Not until the 89th did Wolfsburg break through, as Madlung headed in a cross to give the Bundesliga champion an all-important away goal.
"You have to take the positives from it," Fulham midfielder Clint Dempsey said. "We beat a good team tonight. It's unfortunate to have conceded a goal, but we played really well. Hopefully we can continue that."
If Fulham had managed to whitewash Wolfsburg, the latter would have needed a 3-0 win at home to advance. But with the away goal, 1-0 will be enough.
Dempsey said that won't change Fulham's mindset for next week.
"We get a draw, then we advance," he said. "To advance all we have to do is not get beat."
