Fulham 0 - 2 Portsmouth

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Sunday Oct 07 2007 04:10

Two quick-fire goals from Portsmouth killed off Fulham at Craven Cottage and extended their unbeaten run to five games.Benjani Mwaruwari and then Hermann Hreidarsson scored within a two-minute blitz despite Fulham enjoying the better chances.

Fulham, meanwhile, have now failed in win in their last six games to pile more misery on manager Lawrie Sanchez.

Ironically, Clint Dempsey made a good start for Fulham when his shot from the edge of the box drew a good save from David James.David Healy then forced James to make another save when his acrobatic strike was on target.

At the other end, Sulley Muntari tested Kasey Keller with a low shot that the American tipped round the post.

James then nearly gifted Fulham an opening goal when he made a hash of Healy's cross in the 15th minute, but fortunately for the goalkeeper, the ball bounced away from Dempsey who was lurking in the box.

The Portsmouth goalkeeper almost then turned provider for his own team when his long goal kick bounced through the Fulham defence causing Keller to punch clear.

A clever Fulham free-kick in the 39th minute nearly broke the deadlock when Chris Baird fed Simon Davies, but the Wales international was unable to turn the ball past James.

But as Fulham piled on the pressure, they were nearly caught on the counter attack.

James' throw was perfect for John Utaka who beat Hameur Bouazza but he was denied a clear shot at goal by Paul Konchesky, who made a good recovery tackle.

Just seconds later, Bouazza created a golden chance for Healy to give Fulham the lead.

The midfielder's cross was perfect for the Northern Irishman but his shot was planted straight at James who saved despite knowing little about it.

After the break it was Portsmouth who looked likeliest to open the scoring - and they did not have to wait long.

Benjani got his reward for perseverance when he latched onto Sean Davis' pass to fire past Keller in the 50th minute.

The ball took a cruel deflection off Carlos Bocanegra's boot to give the goalkeeper no chance.

Fulham were still in shock when Hreidarsson doubled Portsmouth's advantage two minutes later.

Hreidarsson out-muscled Baird on the wing before racing through and slotting past Keller.

Davis was then inches away from putting the game beyond Fulham's reach when he failed to convert a dangerous cross.

Fulham searched for a way back but could not find a way past the resilient Portsmouth defence.

Live Commentary

  • 90
    FULL TIME FULHAM 0-2 PORTSMOUTH: It's all over and Pompey pick up another deserved win and are up to fifth in the table with two quick second half goals. Fulham's poor winless run continues and they drop into the Premiership's bottom three.
  • 90
    Three minutes of injury time to play but this game is all over now as Fulham have given up and Portsmouth looked to have settled for two.
  • 88
    Benjani gets fee in the area but his effort from an angle is straight at Kasey Keller and he misses out on a second.
  • 87
    Hermann Hreidarsson is replaced after picking up a slight knock earlier and Noe Pamarot comes on in his place to see out the game.
  • 86
    Pompey are running down the clock here and are looking very solid but there is still a glimmer of hope if Fulham can sneak one.
  • 84
    Fulham force two quick corners with Carlos Bocanegra getting up at the back post but he cannot direct the header on target under pressure from Hermann Hreidarsson.
  • 82
    Seol tries to work an opening down the right but he is crowded out as he takes too long getting the ball in.
  • 80
    We are entering the final 10 minutes now and Fulham need to do something quickly to set up any chance of a comeback. It looks unlikely at the minute.
  • 78
    Good play by Pompey on the break as John Utaka and Benjani combine with Pedro Mendes whose effort is blocked in the area.
  • 77
    Pompey fans are singing 'We want seven'! I doubt that will happen today but two is more than enough at the moment.
  • 76
    Miguel Pedro Mendes is coming on as Papa Bouba Diop hobbles off with a slight knock for Portsmouth.
  • 75
    It looks comfortable at the moment for Portsmouth but a Fulham goal would really stir this game back up.
  • 73
    Fulham are still looking to get back into this contest with Hameur Bouazza just failing to volley the ball across the face of goal and Pompey get a goal kick.
  • 71
    John Utaka breaks again using his excellent pace but Carlos Bocanegra gets back to knock the ball out for a corner.
  • 70
    Hameur Bouazza hits a shot in with his left foot which David James does well to finger tip round the post for a corner which they clear.
  • 69
    Pompey get in again on the right of the Fulham area but John Utaka's low shot lacks pace and Kasey Keller comfortably gathers.
  • 68
    Danny Murphy plays a free kick into the middle from the left but Diomansy Kamara's header is well wide of the mark.
  • 66
    Glen Johnson pulls the ball back to Niko Kranjcar and he sidefoots wide of the post despite being unmarked in the centre of the Fulham area.
  • 65
    A few good deflections off Pompey defenders sets up Clint Dempsey but his effort goes just wide of the far post.
  • 64
    Hermann Hreidarsson hauls down Seol in a dangerous position to the right of the Pompey area. Hameur Bouazza tries his luck and David James pushes it over the bar.
  • 63
    Glen Johnson tries to pop a ball into the Fulham area but it is too high and drifts out for a goal kick as the game has settled down slightly.
  • 61
    David Healy goes off along with Chris Baird and Alexei Smertin as Diomansy Kamara, Ki-Hyeon Seol and Danny Murphy all come on in a triple switch by Fulham.
  • 59
    A great break from John Utaka and he puts a low cross into the Fulham area but Sean Davis makes acomplete mess of his attempt and misses the ball and with it a chance to wrap up the game and score past his old club.
  • 58
    It looks like Fulham could be set to make a few changes as they need a quick goal here.
  • 56
    Lawrie Sanchez will be hoping his players can emulate their heroics against Spurs and Man City this season wheer they came from behind to scrape a point.
  • 55
    Pompey have stunned Fulham with those two goals in the space of as many minutes and they will be up to fifth if they hold on to this lead.
  • 52
    FULHAM 0-2 PORTSMOUTH: Pompey hit forward to score again as Niko Kranjcar plays in HERMAN HREIDARSSON who gets in a shot from an angle inside the area and it deflects in off Baird
  • 52
    At last the goal the match has been crying out for and it will hopefully open it up more as Fulham need to get back into it.
  • 50
    FULHAM 0-1 PORTSMOUTH: BENJANI does well to turn Carlos Bocanegra on the edge of the area and he fires a low shot in.
  • 49
    Niko Kranjcar whips the corner into the middle but Aaron Hughes does enough to put off Sol Campbell's attempts at a header.
  • 48
    Benjani does well to get a corner after a burst of speed took him into the Fulham area.
  • 46
    The game is up and running again and after all the expectations about a goal fest both sides will hope to convert some of the chances if they create similar ones to those at the back end of the first half.
  • 45
    HALF TIME: FULHAM 0-0 PORTSMOUTH: The first half comes to an end and despite a goalless 45 minutes both sides had chances to score at the start and end of the lively and even half.
  • 44
    It's come to life at the end of this half with another ball going right across the face of goal as Clint Dempsey cannot connect to David Healy's cross.
  • 43
    Hameur Bouazza makes a great run and puts a lovely cross into the middle and David Healy's shot is straight at david James. Anywhere else and that was 1-0.
  • 41
    David James throws the ball out to John Utaka on the halfway line and the striker goes bursting into the area and Kasey Keller gets down tio save at his feet.
  • 41
    David Healy hits the ball off Glen Johnson in the area and appeals for handball but it looked more like his chest.
  • 39
    A Chris Baird low ball into the area is well cut out by Sol Campbell as Fulham tried to launch a quick attack. Clint Dempsey hen gets in a low shot but it is easy for David James.
  • 36
    Sylvain Distin concedes a corner as he gets back to help out Sol Campbell. The ball is then played in and flicked on by Aaron Hughes with David James collecting at the second attempt.
  • 34
    Chris Baird does well to head clear as John Utaka floated a dangerous cross into the Fulham area.
  • 32
    Papa Bouba Diop gets some space on the edge of the area but the right-foot effort is over the top of his former club's crossbar.
  • 31
    Not a bad spell for Fulham as they get some balls into the Pompey area but David James is not troubled as he comes out to gather one from under the nose of Clint Dempsey.
  • 29
    Clint Dempsey gets his head to a Chris Baird cross and it flashes across the face of goal but he was just offside anyway.
  • 28
    Clint Dempsey gets up to flick on a throw in into the Pompey area but David James gets up and makes the save.
  • 26
    At the moment it seems like the two defences are holding all the aces and the promise of goals is not as certain as it looked in the opening quarter.
  • 24
    John Utaka floats a ball across the Fulham area and Niko Kranjcar meets it with a first time volley into the middle but the hosts get it clear of danger.
  • 23
    Another misunderstanding between Kasey Keller and Aaron Hughes under pressure from Benjani. Pompey win a corner but Fulham get hat clear.
  • 21
    Steven Davis gets a silly booking for kicking the ball away after a free kick was given against him.
  • 19
    Just a lull in the action in the past few minutes or so as the action is centred around the middle of the field.
  • 17
    Aaron Hughes tries to guide the ball back to Kasey Keller and the keeper needs to rush in the end as Benjani was on the scene sniffing for a goal.
  • 15
    Plenty of attacking play by both sides it's only a matter of time before a goal goes in surely?
  • 13
    David Healy's low cross is parried by David James and Sol Campbell is on hand to hack the loose ball clear of danger.
  • 12
    Portsmoth struggle to clear Paul Konchesky's long throw into the area and Chris Baird blasts a shot in straight at David James.
  • 10
    Fulham cannot clear Niko Kranjcar's corner properly and Sulley Muntari gets another fierce drive in which Kasey Keller holds on to well.
  • 10
    Sulley Muntari breaks into the Fulham area and gets in a low shot on an angle which Kasey Keller pushes around his near post.
  • 9
    David Healy knocks the ball up and hooks a shot at goal which is easy for David James as it lacked any real power.
  • 7
    Simon Davies swings a free kick into the Pompey area but Sylvain Distin is equal to this as he thumps it clear with a powerful hader.
  • 5
    It has been a lively opening five minutes as the two sides look on a mission for goals let us hope they deliver.
  • 3
    A great snap-shot from distance by Clint Dempsey and David James turns it around the post for a corner which Pompey clear through Sylvain Distin.
  • 1
    A great atmosphere in the ground helped by the 4,500 Pompey fans who have made the trip to Craven Cottage. A lively start as well with Pompey looking lively from the off.
  • 0
    This game is underway at Craven Cottage and with Portsmouth hitting seven last week and Fulham having two 3-3 draws at home already this season we could be in for a cracker. Alternatively it could be goalless and boring.
  • 0
    Portsmouth starting XI: James, Johnson, Distin, Campbell, Hreidarsson, Muntari, Kranjcar, Davis, Diop, Utaka, Mwaruwari.
  • 0
    Portsmouth striker Kanu fails to recover from a knee injury so Benjani starts at Craven Cottage following his hat-trick in last week's 7-4 win against Reading.
  • 0
    Fulham starting XI: Keller, Baird, Bocanegra, Hughes, Konchesky, Davies, Davis, Smertin, Bouazza, Healy, Dempsey.
  • 0
    Veteran American goalkeeper Kasey Keller starts in goal for Fulham, with Antti Niemi on the bench.

Statistics

Fulham
Shots on target 10
Shots off target 3
Shots off bar/post 0
Fouls 7
Offsides 2
Corners 8

Portsmouth
Shots on target 8
Shots off target 6
Shots off bar/post 0
Fouls 17
Offsides 4
Corners 5

See Live Commentary