Just two days after the squad was denied entrance into Harrods -
owned by Cottagers chairman Mohamed Al Fayed - for looking scruffy,
Shakhtar lost a match they looked destined to win comfortably.
Zoltan Gera marked his recovery from a knee injury by firing
the opener with just two minutes on the clock, although Shakhtar
will be unhappy with keeper Andriy Pyatov's role in the goal.
But then it was one-way traffic as the Ukrainians, inspired
by their five-strong Brazilian contingent, outclassed Fulham who
clung onto their precious lead until the half hour mark.
Luiz Adriano pounced for the equaliser and a second seemed
imminent but Fulham survived until half-time and then clawed back
some of the initiative.
Zamora struck the decisive blow in the 63rd minute,
unleashing a thunderous 20-yard shot that rattled the crossbar and
crashed home for his 14th goal of the season.
It was a magnificent strike that gives Fulham hope of
progressing in the competition, although big-spending Shakhtar will
console themselves with an away goal ahead of next Thursday's
second leg.
Fulham raced out of the blocks and would have taken the lead
after just 50 seconds but Pyatov reacted swiftly to save Brede
Hangeland's header at the far post.
The Shakhtar keeper was culpable when Fulham powered ahead in
the third minute, however, after sharp passing from Danny Murphy
and Zamora split open the visiting defence.
Zamora laid on a brilliant chance for Gera and although the
Hungarian's shot lacked menace, it still slipped beneath Pyatov who
got a despairing hand to the ball.
Stunned into action, the strike provoked a flurry of activity
from Shakhtar aided by Hangeland losing the ball too easily and
keeper Mark Schwarzer producing a dismal goal-kick that fell
straight to the dangerous Fernandinho.
Jadson saw a shot blocked by the busy Hangeland before
captain Darijo Srna fired wide from 25 yards out.
Fulham were buckling as they struggled to contain the speed
and movement of their opponent's Brazilian contingent.
In the 32nd minute they cracked, Ilsinho slipping a
beautifully weighted pass between Aaron Hughes and Kelly to his
fellow Brazilian Luiz Adriano who easily beat Schwarzer.
Shakhtar cranked up the pressure but had Srna booked on one
attack after the right-back made a meal of a challenge by Kelly.
Shakhtar displayed their counter-attacking skills when Zamora
was caught dithering on the edge of the area, stripping him of the
ball and then breaking clear through William The only way of
halting the jet-heeled midfielder was for Murphy to nudge him over
and the Fulham skipper was booked as a result.
The Cottagers were beginning to look more threatening with
Zamora holding the ball up well and Damien Duff proving a handful
down the left flank.
Shakhtar occasionally looked suspect at the back and in the
63rd minute they were undone by a pile-driver from Zamora.
The ball was quickly played out of defence by Hangeland to
Gera, who spotted an unmarked Zamora and the Fulham marksman pulled
the trigger on a 20-yard shot that struck the underside of the
crossbar before crashing home.
Gera and Zamora then had chances to produce a third, but both
players directed their headers at Pyatov.
Shakhtar had lost momentum and their forays forward lacked
the conviction of earlier, although some hesitancy in Fulham's
defence ensured home fans were subjected to a nervy finish.
The real heart-stopping moment came when Schwarzer produced a
magnificent save from Fernandinho deep into injury time.
