...by the skin of their teeth - American Grit

The saga has a happy ending...after all ! Fulham FC completed their remarkable end of season run with a 1-0 victory over Portsmouth to guarantee Premier League football at Craven Cottage next season. Roy Hodgson's side made it four wins in five games on Sunday - a truly remarkable achievement. Danny Murphy scored the Cottagers' goal in the 75th minute... While waiting for this "Day of Destiny", the team was busy shoring up the contract to keep Clint Dempsey, should disaster strike today. Through the season, Dempsey scored six goals in league play - more than any other Cottager. His new deal, finalized just a few days ago, will keep him in place through 2010. The fates of the other four Americans - Brian McBride, Kasey Keller, Carlos Bocanegra, and Eddie Johnson - are less certain, however.

Read Who Ate All the Pies' "Top 10 Great Relegation Escapes"

VIDEO - "Day of Destiny" team produced to inspire for today's match...with related news.

Read the article on Clint Dempsey's new Fulham deal

Dempsey recorded a podcast earlier this week, LISTEN HERE

Read Brian McBride's interview for New York Times' GOAL Blog

( http://mvn.com/soccer/2008/05/11/fulhamerica-captures-win-in-the-clutch-1-0-to-guarantee-place-in-premiership-for-2008-09/ )