Zamora´s late stunner sinks Birmingham

Bobby Zamora capped Fulham’s second half fightback as the Cottagers claimed a dramatic 2-1 win over Birmingham on Sunday.

Roy Hodgson’s side trailed in the third minute when Fulham defender Chris Baird headed a spectacular own goal at Craven Cottage.

But Damien Duff scored a superb equaliser after half-time and Zamora drove in a brilliant free-kick winner in stoppage time to lift Fulham above Birmingham into ninth place.

Birmingham had been on the front foot in the early stages and James McFadden should have done better than shoot straight at Australian goalkeeper Mark Schwarzer.

McFadden didn’t need to rue that miss for long as Baird gifted Birmingham the lead in comical fashion.

Lee Bowyer sent in a cross to the far post and Baird, under little pressure, inexplicably directed a powerful header past Schwarzer into his own net.

Northern Ireland defender Baird tried making amends and set up Simon Davies moments later, only for Birmingham goalkeeper Joe Hart to make a brave save.

Davies had another sight of goal from Zoltan Gera’s pin-point cross but the Welsh midfielder headed straight at Hart.

Birmingham midfielder Sebastian Larsson had a shot blocked by Dickson Etuhu, but Davies threatened again as he scuffed an effort at Hart from Danny Murphy’s pass.

Alex McLeish’s team were fortunate not to concede a penalty early in the second half when defender Scott Dann clearly handled the ball.

The frustration of that injustice spurred Fulham on and the Cottagers equalised in the 59th minute.

Duff cut in from the left and exchanged passes with Gera before driving a sublime strike that whistled past Hart via his the left post.

The visitors mounted an immediate response and Schwarzer had to tip a blistering shot from McFadden onto the underside of the crossbar. The Australian was able to breathe a sigh of relief as the ball then bounced down and out to safety.

Just as the match appeared to be heading for a draw, Gera was brought down by Stephen Carr in the 90th minute and Zamora stepped up to smash the free-kick past Hart for the winner.

It was Zamora’s 15th goal in 32 starts and came in front of England coach Fabio Capello, who may have raised a smile at the Fulham fans’ chants of ‘Bobby for England’.