Fulham Battle to Retain Unofficial World Club Championship Title

Barney Corkhill's Unofficial World Club Championship (UWCC) saw another defence today, as champions Fulham took on the team they won the title off—Tottenham Hotspur.

Roy Hodgson had surprised everyone by leading Fulham to seven games unbeaten, but their away form was still under scrutiny. They hadn't scored an away goal since Oct. 26, when Clint Dempsey scored a late equaliser against Portsmouth.

Tottenham were without a win in four going into this match, a run which included a loss against Newcastle, but also a hard-fought draw against Manchester United. In Fulham, they came up against the team who had effectively ended their dream start under Harry Redknapp.

And, once again, they were unable to get the three points against a disciplined Fulham side.

It was a story of both 'keepers, as Heurelho Gomes and Mark Schwarzer made some impressive, and important, saves at either end.

Gomes saved well from a spectacular effort from Clint Dempsey and denied Andy Johnson later in the game. Schwarzer produced an unorthodox, yet effective, save from a David Bentley long ranger, and a brilliant one to deny Aaron Lennon from close range in the best chance of the game.

Tottenham have now failed to score in their last three games, while Fulham have gone four games without scoring away from home.

The result is the fifth draw in the reign of Fulham, and they have only won twice, including the earlier result against Tottenham in which they claimed the title. It was also Tottenham's second shot at the title, and the first in which they have been unsuccessful.

Of the 52 people who voted in the poll, 76.9 percent of them predicted that Tottenham wouldn't be able to beat Fulham and win the UWCC title, so well done to them! It seems Fulham have gained a rather large gathering!

History

Chelsea 4-0 Portsmouth

Stoke 0-2 Chelsea

CFR Cluj 0-0 Chelsea

Chelsea 2-0 Aston Villa

Middlesbrough 0-5 Chelsea

Chelsea 1-0 AS Roma

Chelsea 0-1 Liverpool (Liverpool become new champions)

Liverpool 1-0 Portsmouth

Tottenham 2-1 Liverpool (Tottenham become new champions)

Tottenham 4-0 Dinamo Zagreb

Manchester City 1-2 Tottenham

Tottenham 4-2 Liverpool

Fulham 2-1 Tottenham (Fulham become new champions)

Liverpool 0-0 Fulham

Aston Villa 0-0 Fulham

Fulham 1-1 Manchester City

Stoke 0-0 Fulham

Fulham 3-0 Middlesbrough

Tottenham 0-0 Fulham

Fulham's record-equalling seventh title defence comes in just two days time as they face former Champions, and the team whose record they will equal, Chelsea at Craven Cottage. Can Chelsea beat Fulham and become the first ever two-time UWCC champions?!

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