Malbranque's sweet drive gives advantage to Fulham

Hajduk Split 0 Fulham 1

Steed Malbranque was the hero as his goal gave Fulham a 1-0 victory against Croatia's Hajduk Split last night in the Cottagers' first match in the Uefa Cup. The French midfielder came up with the crucial away goal in this Cup first round, first leg five minutes after the interval, rifling a shot into the bottom corner.

Goran Ivanisevic – Split's most famous fan – joined 33,000 home supporters and 250 Fulham followers in the magnificent Poljud stadium. Last year's Wimbledon tennis champion was witness to a pulsating atmosphere throughout this entertaining match.

Split could have taken the lead inside two minutes. Vlatko Dolonga rose above the Fulham defence to reach Dario Srna's corner but fluffed his header. Edwin van der Sar showed superb bravery to halt another Split raid in the 11th minute, punching away a corner at the near post as Mato Neretljak floored him.

Fulham's first attack came when Steve Marlet led a quick break and slipped the ball into Sylvain Legwinski's feet on the edge of the box. However, the French midfielder failed to bring the ball under control and the attack faltered.

Van der Sar saved Fulham with a fantastic point-blank stop in the 29th minute. Dolonga swung over a cross from the left and Srna easily outjumped Rufus Brevett to power a header goalwards. The Dutchman made a fine parry and scrambled to his feet to narrow the angle as the winger's follow-up effort hit the outside of the post.

Dolonga sent a header wide and Mario Carevic fired wide as the Croats piled on the pressure. Three minutes after the break, Carevic turned Brevett and raced goalwards, only to shoot wide from 22 yards. But there was nothing wasteful about the finish at the other end two minutes later as Malbranque's clinical strike gave Fulham a crucial lead.

Junishi Inamoto played the ball into Marlet, 30 yards from goal, who slipped it to Malbranque, coming in from the left wing. He beat Stipe Pletikosa with a well-placed drive.

Split's fanatical fans showed their anger at their team going behind by letting off flares – and their mood almost worsened in the 67th minute when Hrvoje Vukovic's poor clearance fell at Marlet's feet. The French international raced goalwards and brought a fine parry from the World Cup goalkeeper Pletikosa with a fierce drive.

Fulham's Lee Clark replaced Inamoto in the 77th minute to make his first appearance since March. The midfielder has been troubled by a stubborn Achilles injury.

Zvonimir Deranja missed a gilt-edged chance to equalise in the 83rd minute, connecting with Dolonga's cross from the left but clipping the ball past the far post.

Hajduk Split: Pletikosa; Dolonga, Vejic, Neretljak, Vukovic, Andric, Srna, Racunica, Miladin, Carevic, Deranja. Substitutes: Runje (gk), Butorovic, Piric, Radeljic, Bule, Brgles, Gudelj.

Fulham: Van der Sar; Brevett, Goma, Ouaddou, Melville, Inamoto, Davis, Malbranque, Legwinski, Hayles, Marlet. Substitutes: Taylor (gk), Clark, Sava, Collins, Knight, Womé, Stolcers.

Referee: F Mendez (Spain).