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  • Yakubu (1), Cahill (73), Yakubu (81)
  • Defoe (38)
  • Date:2008-03-02
  • Kick-off:16:00
  • Venue:Goodison Park
  • Attendance:33938
  • Referee:Marriner, A

Live Commentary

90mins

The final whistle goes and Everton complete a comfortable victory, Pompey did have a brief spell in the second half where they played well, but overall, Everton are deserving of their victory.

90mins

There will be three minutes of stoppage time.

90mins

Leighton Baines comes on late to replace Steven Pienaar.

89mins

Defoe goes on a great run after getting past 3 players, his shot however doesn't do justice to his run, and the effort goes wide of the post.

88mins

The game seems to be heading Everton's way now, this means that the Blues will end the day in that coverted fourth Champions League spot.

85mins

Harry Redknapp must be wondering what happened, his Pompey side came out in the second half playing much better, yet with 5 or so minutes to go, the game seems all but lost.

82mins

Victor Anichebe replaces Ayegbeni Yakubu, who recieved a great round of applause from the Everton faithful.

81mins

Yakubu scores! Pompey lost the ball, and Everton broke forward, Yakubu then received the ball and then went on to score a great individual goal to effectively win the game,

77mins

John Utaka replaces Papa Bouba Diop.

75mins

James slips as he goes to clear the ball, he makes up for it though as his flying header clears the danger away after Everton attempt tp capitalise.

73mins

Tim Cahill scores! Good build-up play from Everton results in the ball being played into the box, Cahill jumps up completly unmarked to head the Blues into the lead.

69mins

Yakubu is flagged offside, it was very tight, however, the linesman seems to get it right, Johnson, however, doesn't notice the whistle and nets...only to be disapointed.

66mins

Mass appeals for a penalty from the Everton fans, notably however, none of the players ask the question after Johnson and Pienaar tussle.

65mins

Tony Hibbert is replaced by Andrew Johnson.

64mins

Steven Pienaar is cautioned for a bad foul on Diop.

63mins

Everton aren't really creating the chances that they should be, this may be why Andy johnson is warming up on the sidelines.

59mins

The game has become much more of a contest in the opening 15 of this second half as both sides have raised their game since the break.

56mins

Distin shows great pace and it takes good defending from Phil Neville to put the ball out of play for a Pompey corner.

52mins

Lecott makes a vital clearance after a great run from Hermann Hreidarsson, and Pompey have played much better in this opening to the second half.

50mins

There's a scramble in the Everton box and the defence struggle to clear the ball, they eventually do and the danger is avoided.

46mins

Shouts early on for an Everton penalty as Johnson seems to nudge Cahill off the ball whilst the two jumped for the ball.

45mins

The second half restarts with the credit for Pompey's goal in doubt, Defoe seems to get the last touch, however, the players all went to celebrate with Johnson which suggests that they think the goal was his.

45mins

The whistle goes and the players head into the tunnel, Pompey will feel the happier after stealing an equaliser after Everton dominatied the majority of the half.

45mins

There will be two minutes of time to be added on.

44mins

Osman puts his shot well wide after seeming surpised when recieveing the ball, his resultant snatch-shot seems to show this.

43mins

Harry Redknapp will be delighted that his side have, if slightly undeserved, brought the scores level close to the break.

40mins

What a steal for Pompey there, that must have been there first real chance, and it wasn't even that, Howard and the Everton defence were seemingly decieved by Johnson's delivery.

37mins

Glen Johnson seems to be taking the credit for the equaliser, completly against the run of play, Johnson hit in a free-kick, the ball decieves everyone and somehow ends up in the back of the net.

36mins

Just under ten minutes until the break, and Pompey need to change something soon if they are to get back into this game, Pompey are showing no initiative at this time.

33mins

Papa Bouba Diop has his arms all over Lescott in the box, and the crowd are furious that the referee hasn't given a penalty.

31mins

Sylvain Distin is booked for a foul on Cahill.

29mins

Everton continue to control the game as Cahill hits a shot on goal, but the effort is easily stopped by James.

25mins

Leon Osman produces a great save from James in the Pompey goal with a shot from range.

22mins

Cahill drives a great shot towards goal that just goes over the bar, however the referee had just blown his whistle for a previous foul.

19mins

The game is still quiet in terms of chances as both sides cant seem to find that final pass, however Everton will be the happier as they are doing a great job at keeping Pompey at bay.

15mins

Distin blocks a shot from Cahill, the ball deflects to Phil Neville, but the resultant ball in cant find a blue shirt in the box.

12mins

The game, bar the goal, has been lacking in genuine chances, however at this time, Everton have been the better of both sides.

9mins

The crowd are relatively lackluster considering that the home side have an early lead, perhaps the fans are as shocked as everyone else is over the early goal.

5mins

Everton have another free-kick in close to the edge of the box, but Yakubu hits it high over the bar.

3mins

What a start for Everton, and David Moyes will be very happy with the start that his side has made so far.

0mins

Ayegbeni Yakubu scores! Steven Pienaar supplied the ball from a free-kick to Yobo, who put the ball into the danger area, and Yakubu headed home against his former club to give Everton a very early lead.

0mins

Andre Marriner is the man in the middle for the game today at Goodison Park, and both sides have lots to play for as this game gets underway.

0mins

David Nugent [Groin] and Mendes [minor foot operation] are both out as Pompey start with: James, Johnson, Campbell, Distin, Hreidarsson, Muntari, Diop, Diarra, Kranjcar, Defoe, Kanu

0mins

Mikel Arteta is out after failing to recover from a groin injury, Carsley plays as his suspension is yet to start as Everton begin with: Howard, Hibbert, Yobo, Jagielka, Lescott, Osman, Neville, Carsley, Pienaar, Cahill, Yakubu

Match Preview

Portsmouth travel to Merseyside to face an Everton side that is currently three places above them as both sides continue to set their sights firmly on winning a place in European football next season.

Pompey have slipped out of a UEFA Cup place after winning only five of their 13 Premier League games since the start of December, while Everton are dreaming of the Champions League.

Everton, unbeaten in the league since Christmas, this week announced their intention to apply for the Intertoto Cup, although only as a precautionary measure.

"Clearly European qualification through our league position or via the UEFA Cup is our main priority," chief executive Keith Wyness explained.

The Toffees have moved into the last 16 of the UEFA Cup and manager David Moyes is adamant that their success in Europe this year has helped their performances in the league.

"To get 50 points at this stage of the season is fantastic and we have to keep building on it. The players are getting better and European football has helped us," Moyes said after the 2-0 win over Manchester City on Monday.

Victor Anichebe and Thomas Gravesen remain absent through injury but defender Leighton Baines is finally fit and Moyes has backed the £6million man to break into the first team before long.

"He's picked up one or two niggling injuries and that's cost him. But I can see him being Everton's left-back for many years," the Everton boss said this week.

Mikel Arteta will be given as long as possible to prove his fitness after the influential midfielder picked up a stomach problem last week, but a starting place for the Spaniard is unlikely.

Pedro Mendes remains a doubt for Portsmouth despite training this week following a foot injury, while defender Noe Pamarot continues to struggle with a knee problem.

Jermain Defoe, Nwankwo Kanu and Milan Baros are now boss Harry Redknapp's only striking options.


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Match Report

Yakubu added another two goals to his tally as Everton beefed up their Champions League credentials with a convincing 3-1 win over Portsmouth.

With fifth-placed Liverpool recording three points against Bolton earlier in the afternoon it was vital Everton continued their excellent form against fellow European hopefuls Pompey.

Everton were one up after less than a minute when Yakubu won a free-kick five yards outside the penalty area.

Steven Pienaar stepped up to float the ball into the box, but what should have been a straightforward clearance for Sol Campbell backfired horribly when he failed to connect with the ball.

An onrushing Yakubu took full advantage as the ball sat up for him to head home his 17th goal of the season with David James in no-man's land.

Yakubu won a near identical free-kick minutes later, but Lee Carsley fired over the bar much to Portsmouth's relief. There was no doubt Everton had been buoyed by the early goal as they set about a rattled Pompey defence.

However, as the game wore on Glen Johnson and Niko Kranjcar began to prove a handful down the right-hand side with a couple of forays into Tim Howard's area.

Everton continued to dominate the half, but a bizarre goal on 38 minutes drew the sides level. Johnson crossed a wicked ball in from the right which was glanced by Jermain Defoe into the back of a bemused Howard's net for an undeserved equaliser.

Harry Redknapp would have known at half-time that the goal could not mask a distinctly below average performance from his side and he would have demanded a lot more creativity in the second 45 minutes.

Whatever Redknapp said had an effect because Portsmouth came out for the second half looking far more composed. Kanu could have put them ahead on 50 minutes, shooting straight at Howard from six yards out under pressure from Joleon Lescott.

The game was looking far more well-matched with both sides threatening on a number of occasions, although all Portsmouth's play was coming from midfield with Defoe and Kanu rarely involved.

It was Moyes who decided to throw caution to the wind though by introducing Andy Johnson for Tony Hibbert with 25 minutes to go.

Everton immediately looked more dangerous with Johnson's pace causing all sorts of problems for Hermann Hreidarsson. The diminutive striker actually had the ball in the net on 69 minutes but Yakubu was fractionally offside when he played Johnson in.

When the inevitable goal did come it was combative midfielder Tim Cahill who rose highest to bury his effort past David James after a wonderful cross by Pienaar who had received the ball after good work from Yakubu on the right side of the penalty area.

Man-of-the match Yakubu wrapped up the victory with a magnificent goal in the 81st minute.

Carsley dispossessed Pompey sub John Utaka and fed the ball to Johnson who, after a short run, hit a long pass over the head of Campbell to Yakubu.

The Nigeria international ran into the area, turned the former Arsenal and Spurs defender, before rifling the ball past James as Johnson attempted to made a last-ditch challenge.

Everton

Portsmouth

Corners

103

Fouls

1218

Goal attempts

139

Shots off target

84

Offsides

30

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