Barney Corkhill's Unofficial World Club Championship (UWCC) saw another defence today as record-breaking champions Fulham took on Sheffield Wednesday of the Championship at Hillsborough.
In the first title match of 2009, Fulham found themselves in the relatively unfamiliar position of favourites. After going nine games unbeaten, a run which has included matches against Liverpool and Chelsea, a loss against Sheffield Wednesday would be a shock to say the least.
Prior to the match, Wednesday had gone four games without a win, and were lying 13th in the table, a whole 23 places below today's opponents.
But, despite pushing Fulham all the way, there was to be no "cupset" at Hillsborough, as Fulham ran out 2-1 winners thanks to a second late goal in successive matches.
The deadlock was broken just 12 minutes in, when a through ball from Danny Murphy set Andy Johnson on his way, and he calmly slotted it under the 'keeper. From then on, it looked like the Premier League side would have the better of it.
Wednesday weren't giving up, however, and Jermaine Johnson was on particularly good form. It wasn't the Wednesday striker who got them their equaliser though, it was defender Tommy Spurr, who shocked everyone with a wonderful strike from 25-yards out.
The two teams matched each other for much of the remaining hour or so, until right at the end, Andy Johnson popped up to give Fulham a dramatic winner, and send them through to the FA Cup fourth round.
The match was the eighth time Fulham have defended their crown, a record which will grow come the next game. It was also Fulham's first away win as UWCC champions and, amazingly, the first time they had scored away from home as well!
The 74 voters in the poll couldn't separate the two sides as the votes came up 50-50 in regards to who would win the match. Congratulations to all those who got it right!
Fulham's run
Fulham 2-1 Tottenham (Fulham become new champions)
Sheffield Wednesday 1-2 Fulham
(Click here to see the complete history of Barney Corkhill's Unofficial World Club Championship.)
Fulham's next title defence comes next Saturday as they host Blackburn Rovers in the Premier League. Can Blackburn beat Fulham and become the greatest club side in the world?!
Click here to see the facts and figures from the New Year's Eve UWCC Stat Attack!
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