Portsmouth 4 - 2 Birmingham City

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Wednesday Mar 12 2008 07:45

Jermain Defoe capped a dream week for FA Cup semi-finalists Portsmouth with a brace to keep alive their hopes of a top-six finish.

Defoe took his tally since a £7.5million move from Tottenham in January to five goals in as many matches with a quick-fire double inside the opening nine minutes.

Striker Defoe opened the scoring with a sixth minute penalty after Milan Baros' cross had bounced on to David Murphy's left arm.

Defoe wrestled the ball from Sulley Muntari, who was the spot-kick hero in Saturday's shock quarter-final win at Manchester United, before calmly picking out the bottom right-hand corner.

Rejuvenated Defoe doubled Portsmouth's early lead with a two yard tap-in after Maik Taylor could only parry Muntari's long-range rocket into the path of Baros, who unselfishly crossed to his strike partner.

Birmingham cut short the home celebrations when midfielder Fabrice Muamba gave them a route back into the match less than a minute later.

Muamba found himself unmarked inside the penalty area to side-foot Gary McSheffrey's pass beyond David James.Papa Bouba Diop came close to extending Pompey's lead in the 16th minute when his long-range effort was tipped wide by Taylor.

Taylor had to be on his mettle again 12 minutes before half-time to keep out Muntari's bending free-kick.Sebastian Larsson showed Muntari how it was done six minutes later when the Swede drew Birmingham level with a stunning left-foot free-kick from 25 yards.

Portsmouth were back in front in the 49th minute when Hermann Hreidarsson took advantage of some slack Birmingham defending to scoop the ball home at Taylor's near post after Niko Kranjcar's free-kick had only been half cleared.

Birmingham, battling for Premier League survival, had Portsmouth on the back foot for most of the last half hour, but could not find a way past the formidable James.

James produced an acrobatic save to keep out Cameron Jerome's close-range volley 14 minutes from time.

The visitors were hit with a sucker punch two minutes into stoppage time when substitute Nwankwo Kanu made it 4-2 with a diving header from Pedro Mendes' cross.

Live Commentary

90
The final whistle blows and Birmingham are left to rue their missed chances.

90
KANU throws himself at a cross which he reaches and finds the back of the net, it's all over now for Birmingham's chances.

89
It's all Birmingham at the minute but the problem for them is that they are not going anyhwhere with the ball.

87
Murphy lets off a shot from the left hand side which sails high over the bar, they are not going to get the draw here if they can't take their chances.

86
Defoe comes off the field to be replaced by former Arsenal man Lauren.

84
Jerome brings the ball down and looks to hit a rocket but Campbell come across to make a great challenge for a corner.

82
Birmingham are enjoying a lot of the ball inside the Pompey half but the final bit of quality is missing, can they find an equaliser?

81
Mcsheffrey swings in a cross which is headed out by Sol Campbell.

79
The corner is whipped in but it is close to James who comes out and punches clear.

78
Larsson feeds the ball into the box to Jerome who hits a fizzer of a volley which is heading for the top corner but James sticks out a hand to save brilliantly.

76
Murphy throws the ball into the box but it is too close to James who collects the ball well.

75
Quarter of an hour to go here, can Birmingham grab the sixth goal of the night? I'm not sure as there are a few tired legs out there at the moment.

73
Forssell comes off to be replaced by Cameron Jerome.

73
Nwankwo Kanu enters the fray for Baros, a strange choice but the Czech striker must be tired.

71
Diarra chaces back and feeds the ball back to James as Birmingham begin to force their authority on to the game.

70
McFadden gets into the area through his pace and skill but former Chelsea midfielder Diarra races back to nock the ball off the legs of the Scot for a goal kick.

68
The match is still on for Birmingham and their fans know it, the Pompey fans however have been booing Bouba Diop all night and that could well be a reason he was brought off.

67
Kranjcar sets Defoe away down the line and the striker is clearly going to beat Jaidhi to the ball but the flag is raised.

66
Ridgewell makes a silly mistake inside the box and Baros is in here, a great low shot is tipped away by Taylor only to Defoe but Murphy makes a fantastic challenge to clear the danger.

64
Diarra comes onto the pitch to replace Bouba Diop.

63
Former Velez Sarsfield striker Zarate comes off to be replaced by James McFadden.

61
McSheffrey has a chance to get Brum back into the match and his shot is goalbound but saved well before being cleared by Pompey.

60
Here comes Defoe and tries in vain to beat Taylor to the ball who looks a bit more sprightly this time rushing out.

58
Lassana Diarra appears to be coming on soon here as Harry Redknapp looks to consolidate his lead.

57
Stephen Kelly does brilliantly to find McSheffrey on the edge of the box who fires in a shot which is blocked by Johnson and he had to, it comes back out and another shot is bocked; Pompey somehow bring the ball out!

55
Milan Baros is clean through in the box and is brought down to ground heavily by Ridgewell before clearly being tripped but the referee waives away protests from severely angered Portsmouth players.

54
Larsson sends in a delightful free-kick which is fliced on and oh so nearly finds the back of the net, sailing just wide.

52
Defoe cuts back onto his right foot just outside the area and launches a fierce effort off at goal which flies just wide.

50
Defoe seems to have got away from his marker Ridgewell but Murphy comes across to help his centre-back out.

48
A long throw-in comes into the six yard box and Herman Hreidarsson beats Taylor to the ball who is slow in coming and flicks the ball past the stopper to give Pompey the breakthrough in this second half.

47
Hopefully the whole of this second half does no deteriorate into a long-ball game as it appears early on.

46
Zarate receives the ball from a throw-in but his chest control is poor and Kranjcar hoofs it straight out of danger.

45
Birmingham get the second half under-way and send a long ball right up to the head of Forssell who nods it down to Zarate who can't control.

45
The whistle goes for half-time and what a first half it has been, action from the off and you wouldn't bet against a second half of similar quality.

45
Kranjcar sends a shot off with his left foot but it is really awful and the ball flies over the bar and almost out of the stadium.

45
The fourth official indicates a minimum of TWO minutes of extra time at the end of this first half.

44
The atmosphere here at Fratton Park is electric - as per usual - and you cannot deny that this is a major factor in how this match is being played at the moment.

43
Kranjcar cuts back onto his right foot and lets off a shot which is ricochets off Liam Ridgewell for a corner kick.

42
This particular commentator covered Pompey's game against Reading earlier this season, that had 11 goals, surely the same can't happen again here?

40
What a fantastic goal by LARSSON, his left footed free-kick curling into the top-left corner and James didn't stand a chance. Such a great comeback!

40
Forssell receives the ball, holds it up and is fouled on the edge of the box in a great position for Brum.

39
This match is so open it's crazy, both sides will have trouble trying to keep the lid on their opponents tonight you have to feel.

38
The home support begin to sing Lassana Diarra's name as he warms up but it doesn't appear as though he will be coming on anytime soon.

36
The corner comes in but it ends up being cleared, so far neither side is really making the most from this position.

34
Muntari whips in a free-kick which deceives all those in the box, apart from Taylor who dives down fantastically to tip the ball wide of the post for a corner as the ball appeared to be dipping in!

33
Forssell works the ball well out on the left before swinging in a cross looking for Larsson but James comes out and collects the ball with ease.

31
Larsson sends in a great low ball across the box from a left sided free-kick but no-one can get a touch!!

29
Defoe has a chance for the ball and is yards ahead of his defender, unfortunately for him the ball is quicker still and the ball bounces out for a goal kick.

28
Defoe thinks that he has broke the offside trap and runs forward with the ball but the flag is raised.

26
Well, after that lively start can both sides keep this up for the rest of the match? For the sake of football I hope so but for the sake of this commentators fingers I have to hope not!

25
Zarate shows some great touch with chest control out on the by-line before rushing forward, Johnson hassles him and eventually uses his strength to watch the ball out for a goal kick.

24
The dead ball is whipped in and cleared - kind of - by Murphy, the Brum left-back clearing the ball out for a throw.

23
Murphy struggles to deal with Diop on the right and concedes a corner.

22
Larsson runs at his man and keeps going, racing past Glen Johnson before unleashing a shot which flies just a foot over the bar.

20
A great ball by Kranjcar over the top finds Hermann Hreidarsson who can't keep the ball and Birmingham take the ball out of danger.

19
Defoe appears to catch Murphy with an elbow on the top of his head but it is not deliberate and Murphy is okay so play goes on.

17
Defoe seems really up for this match and breaks into the box, sending a vicious shot at Taylor who saves well down to his right.

16
Niko Kranjcar sends a delightful through ball down the wing and the chace is on between Defoe and Murphy, the defender gets there just in time to clear the ball.

14
Zarate is shown the first yellow card of the night for a dive on the edge of the box and it was clear.

13
Sebastian Larsson is sent away by Forssell down the left and cuts the ball back for Mauro Matias Zarate who is caught, or is he?

11
Pedro Mendes is down on the floor following a heafty challenge by Damien Johnson and looks in a lot of pain right now.

9
A great inswinging corner is met by the head of FABRICE MUAMBA who places his effort beyond David James for his first Birmingham goal!

8
Taylor makes a poor save from a decent shot which falls to the feet of DEFOE who slides home his second of the night!

6
DEFOE steps up to take the penalty and sends Maik Taylor the wrong way to give Pompey the lead.

5
David Murphy gives away a penalty early on with a blatant hand-ball.

4
Fabrice Muamba breaks away from Distin and a two against one chance in on the cards here but his pass to Sebastian Larsson is poor and Pompey's flying full-backs get back and clear.

3
Mikael Forssell finds Gary McSheffrey with a pass to the edge of the box but Papa Bouba Diop rushes back to mop up for the visiting side.

1
Portsmouth feed the ball back to Sylvain Distin who looks to break forward with the ball early on.

0
The referee checks his watch and this game is underway, Birmingham kicking left to right.

0
Birmingham: Maik Taylor, Kelly, Jaidi, Ridgewell, Murphy, McSheffrey, Johnson, Muamba, Larsson, Forssell, Zarate.

0
Portsmouth: James, Johnson, Campbell, Distin, Hreidarsson, Diop, Muntari, Pedro Mendes, Kranjcar, Baros, Defoe.

0
Tonight's referee is Steve Tanner. The official has been in the middle ten times this season and is yet to hand out a red card, although he has shown 29 yellows.

0
Birmingham have no new injury woes following their last match but Olivier Kapo is still out with a hamstring complaint and Martin Taylor serves the second game of his suspension.

0
Portsmouth welcome back Jermain Defoe who was cup-tied at the weekend while Milan Baros and Pedro Mendes are also set to start.

Statistics

Portsmouth

Shots on target	10
Shots off target	4
Shots off bar/post	0
Fouls	8
Offsides	3
Corners	4

Birmingham City

Shots on target	5
Shots off target	2
Shots off bar/post	0
Fouls	10
Offsides	1
Corners	3

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