FA Cup: West Bromwich Albion 0-1 Portsmouth
By Jemma Tappenden
April 6 2008
Albion’s fantastic FA Cup run came to a huge crescendo yesterday as their side proudly walked out onto the pitch of England’s national stadium to face the sole remaining Premiership side in this year’s competition to battle it out for a place in the semi final. Both sides looking to gab the chance to play in the final, where a chance to lift the trophy as champions has never been better.
A carefully considered Baggies side from Tony Mowbray saw leading scorer Kevin Phillips and Roman Bednar restored as the starting strike partnership, they have notched up 39 goals between them so far this season. This meant that Ishmael Miller had to settle for a place on the bench regardless have having scored a hatrick in the quarter final against Bristol Rovers.
Pompey boss Harry Redknapp made four changes to his side, bringing in Lassana Diarra, Papa Bouba Diop, Sulley Muntari and Kanu, who replaced Sean Davies, Pedro Mendes, John Utaka and Jermain Defoe who was cup-tied.
West Brom wasted no time in getting stuck into their Premiership opponents, and recorded the first shot of the game within the opening minutes as Kevin Phillips finding himself in space on the edge of the box fired just over. Two minutes later Zoltan Gera tried his luck from 18 yards, causing problems for Portsmouth keeper James as he spilled the ball, but Sol Campbell was on call to mop up before Roman Bednar could steal in.
In the 8th minute Pompey made their first threat on goal, a looping overhead kick from Kranjcar nearly releasing Baros on goal, but keeper Dean Kiely was quick to react and was first to collect. Nonetheless, it was a warning for the Baggies of the potential pace with which Pompey could break.
Albion were enjoying some encouraging play, and Gera did well to bypass not one, but two challenges to get a cross in to Phillips, who struck a low effort from just outside the area. But his shot was well cleared by Glen Johnson.
In the 23rd minute Pompey broke with pace again, Baros screamed down the right flank and past Neil Clement with ease. Fortunately Martin Albrechtsen was on call to provide a crucial block, and when the loose ball was eventually floated back in by Hreidarsson to Bouba Diop, Kiely was able to gather the 15 yard header comfortably.
The Baggies conceded a freekick 30 yards out from goal which Muntari struck superbly, but Kiely despite recent criticism from some fans held the ball well. Portsmouth notched up the first booking of the game 5 minutes later as Baros was shown yellow by referee Howard Webb for deliberately handling the ball as he tried to break free of Albrechtsen.
A defensive mix up from Pompey almost allowed Albion to steal in a few moments later when James spilled a routine back header from Glen Johnson, But James was first to the ball on the second occasion as top scorer Kevin Phillips came racing towards it.
Four minutes before the break Bouba Diop was first to a header in front of Robinson as he guided the ball down to Kanu, who squared for Baros in the penalty area, but Kiely was first to the ball again as Baros reached full stretch to try and control. As half time approached Pompey had a half chance when Muntari sent a 25 yard effort in from the left, but the ball flew harmlessly over the target, leaving the scores all level at the break.
Half Time: West Bromwich Albion 0-0 Portsmouth
Clearly fazed by their Championship opponents gaffer Harry Redknapp must have given quite a halt time talk, because Pompey looked a different side after the break. Nine minutes into the restart Portsmouth took the lead, Baros controlled the ball into the area, holding off Albrechtsen before firing in on goal. His shot was well parried away by Kiely, but Gera who had nudged the loose ball away from Hreidarsson played it straight to the feet of Kanu who made a simple tap in home.
With Baggies fans at the opposite end of the stadium nothing appeared untoward; however, television cameras picked up something that the official did not – Baros quite clearly using part of his arm to initially control the ball. Pompey had a chance to double their lead just four minutes later, but Kranjcar miscued horribly after Muntari had supplied him just 12 yards out.
In the 61st minute Mowbray made a double substitution, spelling the end of FA Cup journeys for Roman Bednar and James Morrison as Ishmael Miller and Chris Brunt were introduced. The goal had clearly unsettled Albion who had descended into a period of play pretty much dictated by Pompey. In the 66th minute Kranjcar played in Baros with a pass that beat both Albrechtsen and Hoefkens, but Kiely made a crucial save despite slipping on his way out to gather the ball.
Towards the final 20 minutes Albion began to find their stride again, and in the 70th minute Gera did well to out muscle Diarra and Muntari on the edge of the box. But his shot was just over the bar. Three minutes later it looked as if Brunt had played in Phillips, but the usually quick footed striker could not beat James to the ball on this occasion.
Hoefkens at full stretch did tremendously well to prevent a loose ball from going out of play, and when he screamed into the box he pulled back for Robert Koren, who from 18 yards saw his goal bound effort rattle the crossbar. Moments later Miller broke down the right, but he chose the wrong ball as he tried to square to Phillips, who was, allowing James to collect the danger, when he might have done better to pull back for Koren, or Kim who had come on in place of Gera.
Substitute Kim gave the ball away to Kranjcar in the 84th minute, who threaded neatly to Pompey sub David Nugent. But Kiely was once again alert to the danger and produced a crucial block to keep Albion in with a chance with just 6 minutes left to play.
West Brom’s last real chance of the game came as Hoefkens fired in a low right wing cross, which Miller placed just wide from about 6 yards out. As the game approached its end Albion piled forward, even Kiely coming up from his area for an 88th minute corner. But the Baggies could find no way through, and their long FA Cup run came to an end at Wembley, with Portsmouth going into the final to face the winners of this of this afternoon’s clash between Barnsley and Cardiff City.
Full Time: West Bromwich Albion 0-1 Portsmouth
Kanu (54)
Attendance: 83,584.