Fulham 2 - 1 Shakhtar Donetsk: Zamora's wonder strike puts Fulham in the driving seat

FULHAM striker Bobby Zamora struck a brilliant winner to round off a miserable trip to London for Europa League champions Shakhtar Donetsk.

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 after he allowed the Hungarian's shot to slip beneath him. But then it was one-way traffic as the Ukrainians, inspired by their five-strong Brazilian contingent, outclassed Fulham who clung on to 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 in for his 14th goal of the season. It was a magnificent strike that gives Fulham hope of progressing in the competition, although Shakhtar will console themselves with an away goal ahead of next Thursday's second leg.

Gera and Zamora also had chances to produce a third, but both players directed their headers at Pyatov. Shakhtar lost momentum as the game wore on, although some hesitancy in Fulham's defence ensured home fans were subjected to a nervy finish.

The real heart-stopping moment came when Mark Schwarzer produced a superb save from Fernandinho deep into injury time.

Fulham: Schwarzer, Baird, Hughes, Hangeland, Kelly, Davies, Etuhu, Murphy, Duff, Gera (Elm 89), Zamora. Subs not used: Zuberbuhler, Nevland, Riise, Smalling, Greening, Marsh-Brown. Booked: Murphy.

Shakhtar Donetsk: Pyatov, Srna, Kucher, Rakitskiy, Rat, Ilsinho, Hubschman (Kravchenko 78), Fernandinho, Willian , Jadson (Douglas Costa 75), Luiz Adriano. Subs not used: Khudzamov, Lewandowski, Gai, Gladkyy, Ischenko. Booked: Luiz Adriano, Srna.

Att: 21,832. Ref: S Gumienny (Bel).