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Kanu fires Pompey into final
05/04/2008 15:42 - (SA)
Wembley - Nwankwo Kanu fired Portsmouth into their first FA Cup final since 1939 in a 1-0 victory over West Bromwich Albion on Saturday.
The former West Brom striker netted the only goal of the semi-final at Wembley in the 54th minute as Pompey - the only Premier League club left in the competition - made sure English soccer's top league will have a team in the final.
In the May 17 final, also at Wembley, Portsmouth will face either Barnsley or Cardiff, two Championship clubs who face each other on Sunday at the home of English soccer.
The crowd of 83 684 was a record for an FA Cup semi-final.
Playing the attacking, interpassing soccer which has brought 78 league and 16 FA Cup goals this season, West Brom gave Portsmouth a sixth minute fright when England goalkeeper David James failed to hold a firmly struck shot from Zoltan Gera.
James also blundered later in the first half when he fumbled a simple back header from teammate Glen Johnson but recovered just in time to stop Kevin Phillips scoring against his former club.
Portsmouth, going strong in the top half of the Premier League, didn't have a shot at goal until Sulley Muntari's 35m free kick in the 29th minute and the midfielder fired a dipping shot just too high just before half-time.
Portsmouth began to squeeze the midfield to stop West Brom's attacks and went ahead in the 54th minute. West Brom goalkeeper Dean Kiely did well to block the first shot from Milan Baros, Gera tried to clear the ball off the line but it rolled to Kanu who stabbed it home from five meters.
Pompey should have gone further ahead in the 66th minute when Baros charged clear of the West Brom defence but waited too long and Kiely pushed his shot round the post.
West Brom almost levelled in the 74th when Robert Koren hit the bar after a determined run down the right by Carl Hoefkens.
- AP
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