Fulham's European adventure is still on track tonight after Jean Tigana's side secured a place in the Intertoto Cup third round on away goals with a draw against FC Haka.

France striker Steve Marlet put the Cottagers ahead in the 47th minute of this second round clash and although Sami Ristila equalised for the Finns, Fulham held on to claim a draw and remain on course for a place in the UEFA Cup.

Having been thwarted by a superb display from Haka goalkeeper Mihail Slawuta in last weekend's goalless first leg at Craven Cottage, Fulham arrived in Finland facing a tricky task at the Tehtaan Kentta stadium in Valkeakoski.

And both sides looked nervy in the opening 45 minutes.

Haka, currently fifth in the Finnish league, had star striker Valeri Popovitch back in their starting-line-up after the 32-year-old Russian missed the first leg due to his fear of flying.

But it was Fulham who started brightly, with striker Louis Saha causing the Haka defence concern with a couple of good early bursts forward.

The Frenchman was sent racing clear by Sylvain Legwinski's long ball after just five minutes but he failed to trouble Slawuta.

Haka, who played a negative game to good effect in the first leg, came out of their shell in front of their home fans after the early exchanges and troubled the Fulham backline with a series of crosses as the visitors struggled to keep possession.

Fulham could have taken the lead in the 32nd minute had Legwinski been able to control his shot when he fired wildly over the bar following a corner.

Alarm bells were ringing in the home defence as Saha and strike partner Marlet were denied first by Slawuta before Legwinski blasted over.

Fulham started the second half at the same frenetic pace as they began the first, and they were ahead just two minutes after the restart.

Popovitch had just fired over the bar from Haka's first attack of the half and Fulham goalkeeper Maik Taylor took a quick goal kick in search of Marlet.

The French forward latched on to Taylor's ball and raced through the centre before scoring with a neat low shot from just inside the penalty area.

Haka now needed two goals to wrest the initiative from their English opponents and they refused to give up the fight.

The Finns poured forward in numbers and pulled level after 66 minutes.

Taylor flapped at a left-wing cross from Lasse Karjalainen and when the ball fell behind the Fulham keeper, Ristila was on hand to prod home the loose ball.

Haka continued to press for a winning goal but the Fulham defence held firm to seal a place in the next round.

Teams:

FC Haka: Slawuta, Koskinen, Pasoja, Ylonen, Okkonen, Kangaskorpi, Innanen, Karjalainen, Rantala, Ristila, Popovits.
Subs: Vilmunen, Aalto, Vaisanen, Ruhanen, Torkelli, Pasanen, Koivuranta.

Fulham: Taylor, Ouaddou, Harley, Melville, Goma, Legwinski, Davis, Collins, Malbranque, Marlet, Saha
Subs: Van der Sar, Sava, Boa Morte, Hayles, Knight, Goldbaek, Stolcers