Quickfire Zamora leads Fulham into semi-finals

Bobby Zamora bolstered his hopes of an England World Cup call when he fired Fulham into the Europa League semi-finals on Thursday, the first time the Londoners have reached such lofty heights.

Zamora scored after just 19 seconds to give the English Premier League side a 1-0 win over German champions Wolfsburg, and a last-four clash with another German side Hamburg, claiming the tie 3-1 on aggregate.

Hamburg, who will also host the final, saw off Standard Liege in their quarter-final.

Zamora’s goal was out of the top drawer when he neatly turned inside Jan Simunek to find the target with a sweet left-foot drive.

In the second half, Wolfsburg’s Brazilian striker Grafite had a shot blocked on the line.

Fulham boss Roy Hodgson was delighted by Zamora’s goal, the striker’s 19th of the season.

“You get your goals when you get them and Bob did ever so well, his combination with (Zoltan) Gera was magnificent and meant they had to get three to win the tie,” Hodgson told ITV.

“We’re strong defensively and I was quite confident we would stop them scoring three.

“It’s nice to make history and I’m so delighted for the players. They were gutted by the goal we conceded in the last minute of the first leg at Craven Cottage and it’s fantastic they’ve come here and kept a clean sheet.”