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A last-gasp equaliser from Marco Andreolli denied 10-man Fulham a historic win against Roma as the Italians scraped a 1-1 Europa League draw at Craven Cottage.

Brede Hangeland put the hosts ahead with a first-half header but Roma fought back and, after Mark Schwarzer had saved a Jeremy Menez penalty, defender Andreolli (pictured) smashed an unstoppable volley in off the crossbar with the final act of the match.

The Whites played the final quarter hour with 10 men after Stephen Kelly was shown a straight red for brining down John Arne Riise to hand Menez his chance from the spot.

The result, coupled with FC Basel's win over CSKA Sofia, means Fulham slip to second in Group E, one point behind the Swiss side and a point ahead of Roma.

Fulham dominated the first half and had six chances before they took a deserved lead.

Nicolas Burdisso almost put past his own keeper when Whites winger Bjorn Helge Riise, who gave elder brother John a torrid time, put in a testing cross from the right.

The corner that followed saw Jonathan Greening fire a fizzing shot from the edge of the box that Doni managed to tip just wide, while eight minutes later the on-loan West Brom midfielder saw a near-identical effort blocked en route to the top left.

Kelly tested Doni with a curler after excellent work on the right from Bobby Zamora, who ran Philippe Mexes ragged in the first half.

Zamora then had a penalty appeal rejected when his shirt was clearly pulled in the area by Andreolli: the former West Ham and Tottenham striker did manage to get a shot away that was blocked by the Roma defender for a corner.

That set-piece almost saw Zamora convert from near the penalty spot and soon after his side were ahead when Hangeland rose to power Bjorn Riise's corner past the flapping Doni on 24 minutes.

Roma had a chance when John Arne Riise hit a crashing volley that was saved in style by Schwarzer, but Fulham were comfortable with and without possession and should have been further ahead at the break.

Visiting boss Claudio Ranieri, returning to the neighbourhood where he used to coach Chelsea, rang the changes at half-time and it showed.

The introduction of David Pizarro and Simone Perrotta gave Roma a five-man midfield containing two World Cup winners and they took control of the game, with Fulham's backs against the wall for most of the second half.

Daniele De Rossi had a headed goal correctly disallowed for offside but for all their possession they lacked a cutting edge up front with Schwarzer, for the most part, an observer as most of their final balls went well beyond lone striker Menez.

Indeed it was Fulham who looked the more dangerous on the break, with Diomansy Kamara's slight hesitance when Zamora played him clean through allowing Doni to claim.

Montenegro forward Mirko Vucinic came on and suddenly Roma had more of an edge.

Menez popped up on the right and fired just wide of the far post while Vucinic forced a smart stop from Schwarzer with a rising drive from the edge of the box.

It looked like Roma's adventure may have paid off when, on 77 minutes, Kelly fouled John Arne Riise in the box and referee Paul Allaerts pointed to the spot.

The Belgian official incorrectly showed Hangeland the red card on the advice of his assistant but backtracked when Kelly claimed responsibility, although it was Hangeland who was the last man and therefore Kelly should arguably only have been cautioned.

Menez stepped up but his low penalty was batted out by a superb one-handed stop from Schwarzer to the delight of is grateful team-mates.

Fulham got men behind the ball and slowed play down as often as possible, with sub Erik Nevland even going close to a second for the Whites but matched by Doni at the near post.

John Arne Riise somehow put the ball wide after Pizarro swung a deadly cross in from right as Roma huffed and puffed to get a leveller.

The Giallorossi finally blew Craven Cottage down when, after they won a corner in the final second of the last of three added minutes, the ball spun to Andreolli at the far post.

The 23-year-old former Italy U21 international had time to take it on his chest and fire a cracking volley that almost took John Pantsil's head off but was goal-bound anyway.

Roma celebrated wildly while Fulham left the pitch stunned, knowing they probably need a win and a draw from their next three matches, which include trips to Basel and Roma's Stadio Olimpico.

Reda Maher / Eurosport