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Zoltan Gera’s powerful first-half header proved decisive as Fulham kept alive their Europa League hopes with a nervy victory over CSKA Sofia.
Todor Timonov fired against the bar for CSKA before Danny Murphy put a penalty over after Ivan Ivanov’s foul on Gera.
The Hungarian nodded Fulham ahead from Bjorn Helge Riise’s cross but a number of chances were missed to make it two.
And the hosts were almost punished late on when Damien Duff was forced to clear a Kosta Yanev strike off the line.
Fulham’s win, allied to Roma’s victory at home to Basle, means Roy Hodgson’s men stay third in Group E – a point adrift of Basle and two behind Roma.
The final round of matches on 16 December sees the Cottagers travel to Basle and CSKA host Roma, with the top two teams progressing to the last 32.
Injury, suspension and ineligibility meant Fulham were forced to make six changes from the side which started against Bolton on Saturday.
But there was no sign of unfamiliarity as the hosts got off to a pulsating start, flooding forward in numbers and exhibiting a one-touch pass-and-move approach that CSKA struggled to contain.
With full-backs John Paintsil and Stephen Kelly marauding upfield, and Simon Davies and Gera pushing on to support lone-striker Bobby Zamora, Fulham were not short of attacking options and Murphy ensured a steady supply of pinpoint passes.
After CSKA goalkeeper Zdravko Chavdarov reacted well to deny Zamora and Davies, Timonov rattled the woodwork with a venomous left-footed drive – but an opener for the visitors would have come totally against the run of play.
Fulham, full of craft and cohesion, continued to push for a breakthrough and should have had their reward when Gera’s surge into the box was ended by Ivanov’s hopeless tackle.
Murphy appeared full of confidence as he stepped up but then blasted his spot-kick horribly high.
But CSKA, seemingly low on confidence despite the backing of a large and highly-vocal section of the crowd, failed to make Fulham pay.
And, moments after Paintsil saw a fizzing effort well-saved, Riise stood up an inviting cross from the right which Vidanov and Ivanov failed to deal with, allowing Gera to race through and head powerfully past Chavdarov.
Zamora ought to have doubled the lead when he volleyed over and another gilt-edged chance went begging as Davies dragged wide from eight yards out.
CSKA came out for the second half with a spring in their step and it looked as though Fulham might have been made to regret their profligacy.
Spas Delev played Todor Yanchev through on goal, only for Kelly to arrive with a last-ditch challenge, before Delev shinned the ball wide following Yordan Minev’s right-wing cross.
Hodgson had replaced Brede Hangeland with Aaron Hughes at half-time and Fulham’s new centre-half pairing of Hughes and Chris Smalling struggled to gel.
They lacked protection and, with Fulham’s midfield now relinquishing possession all too easily, faced wave after wave of CSKA pressure late on.
The visitors’ big chance came on 81 minutes when Yanev drilled in a goal-bound effort from 25-yards, but Duff got down to repel it off the line with his knee.
Fulham were resorting to counter-attack football but goalscoring opportunities were few and far between and fatigue began to set in.
Delev zipped a shot just over but, despite spending the last quarter firmly on the back foot, Fulham held on for a vital victory.
Fulham manager Roy Hodgson:
“All credit to CSKA, they had nothing to lose in the last 20 minutes and brought talented players on. When you make changes it makes it difficult for players.
“It was foolish to miss a penalty but there were other missed chances and the game could have been dead and buried.
“I’m very pleased that we showed the strength of character to stand up to that.”
CSKA Sofia coach Luboslav Penev on missing the first-half:
“I arrived 15 minutes before half-time and remained in the tunnel until the break. The most important thing is that I arrived during the game and was close to my assistants and my team.
“I was told about the first 30 minutes, they were fast forgotten and we outplayed Fulham in the second half. This is how I would like my team to play always.
“We deserved a goal and at least a point after creating five or six opportunities. Maybe we should have had a penalty too.”