- Petrov (10 og), Kanu (87)
- Heskey (12), Milner (27), Downing (74), Young, A (89)
- Date:2009-12-01
- Kick-off:19:45
- Venue:Fratton Park
- Attendance:17034
- Referee:Mason, L
Live Commentary
90mins
The ref has blown his whistle for full time.
90mins
Emile Heskey is replaced by Nathan Delfouneso.
89mins
Goal!! Aston Villa have scored with Ashley Young putting it in the back of the net.
87mins
Gabriel Agbonlahor is booked for dissent.
87mins
Goal!! Nwankwo Kanu scores for Portsmouth.
85mins
Portsmouth are replacing Richard Hughes with Marc Wilson.
82mins
The referee has booked Younes Kaboul.
76mins
Portsmouth are replacing John Utaka with Frederic Piquionne.
74mins
Goal!! Aston Villa have scored with Stewart Downing putting it in the back of the net.
65mins
Danny Webber is being taken off, Nwankwo Kanu has come on in his place.
59mins
The referee has booked James Milner.
55mins
The referee has booked Anthony Vanden Borre.
53mins
Michael Brown goes into the referee's book for unsporting behaviour.
46mins
The second half is under way with the score currently at 1 v 2.
45mins
Half time whistle is blown by L Mason
27mins
Goal!! Aston Villa have scored with James Milner putting it in the back of the net.
12mins
Goal!! Emile Heskey scores for Aston Villa.
10mins
Own goal, Stiliyan Petrov has put it in his own net.
0mins
The ref has blown his whistle and the match has started.
0mins
Portsmouth face Aston Villa at 7:45pm on Tuesday, December 1st.
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Match Report
Stewart Downing sent out a timely reminder to England manager Fabio Capello by scoring his first Aston Villa goal to help Martin O'Neill's men into the Carling Cup semi-finals courtesy of a 4-2 win at Portsmouth.
Downing marked his first Villa start since a bumper £10million summer move from Middlesbrough with a win-clinching header 16 minutes from time.
Emile Heskey and James Milner and Ashley Young were also on target as Villa fought back from a goal down early on to cruise into the last four.
Premier League bottom club Pompey stunned the 3,000 travelling Villa fans into silence by taking a surprise tenth minute lead, albeit thanks to a huge slice of luck.
Danny Webber's left-wing corner appeared to be heading harmlessly into the arms of stand-in goalkeeper Brad Guzan, until captain Stiliyan Petrov made a mess of an attempted clearance and sliced the ball into the roof of his own net.
The goal sparked Villa into action and O'Neill's side took just two minutes to get themselves back on level terms.
Young sliced the Portsmouth defence in half with a clever through ball to set Heskey free and the England striker coolly lifted the ball over the advancing Asmir Begovic.
Villa's comeback was complete 12 minutes later when Milner fired home into Begovic's bottom left corner with a sweetly struck 20-yard shot.
Portsmouth had the majority of possession in the start of the second half but Villa always looked dangerous on the counter attack.
Downing, who has been sidelined by a metatarsal injury since the end of last season, wrapped up Villa's win in the 74th minute, ghosting in at the back post to head Young's teasing right-wing cross beyond a despairing Begovic.
Substitute Kanu gave Portsmouth a glimmer of hope by scrambling Herman Hreidarsson's centre over the line three minutes from time, only for Villa to restore their two-goal advantage straight from the kick-off.
Heskey broke down the right before crossing for Young and his close-range shot struck Pompey defender Marc Wilson and looped over Begovic and into the net.
Portsmouth Team
Aston Villa Team
Portsmouth | Aston Villa |
Corners
| 6 | 2 |
Fouls
| 13 | 13 |
Goal attempts
| 5 | 11 |
Shots off target
| 2 | 5 |
Offsides
| 2 | 1 |
