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Match Report
Portsmouth v Man Utd 11 February 2006
United see off Pompey rally
Portsmouth 1 - 3 Manchester United
Manchester United took advantage of a rare Chelsea slip-up as a clinical performance at Fratton Park secured a 3-1 victory over troubled Portsmouth.
A poacher's goal from Ruud van Nistelrooy put United in front and a double from Cristiano Ronaldo had the game wrapped up by half time.
Matthew Taylor headed in a late consolation - something Pompey deserved - and manager Harry Redknapp will draw encouragement from the spirited second half display of his relegation-threatened team.
Tresor Lomana Lua Lua, playing despite the sudden death of his son, was Portsmouth's best player and his dangerous cross forced Wes Brown into an excellent clearance.
From the resulting corner, Lua Lua flicked the ball on, but strike partner Benjani Mwaruwari was wayward with an acrobatic volley.
United took the lead on 18 minutes via their first meaningful attack. Ryan Giggs played a quick one-two with van Nistelrooy before sprinting clear of the Pompey defence.
He rounded Dean Kiely, but could only find the crossbar with his shot. Fortunately for the Welshman, the ball fell straight to the predatory van Nistelrooy, who had the simplest of headers.
The omnipresent Lua Lua was keeping the visiting back-line on its toes and he cut inside Rio Ferdinand before curling a shot beyond the far post.
But The Red Devils responded by scoring a stunning goal on 38 minutes. Ronaldo collected the loose ball 30 yards from goal and unleashed a searing drive which flew above Kiely's hands and into the roof of the net.
By half time Ronaldo had added his second of the game after good work from Wayne Rooney. The England ace turned past a defender and fed his young colleague, who surged into the area before slotting his shot, with the aid of a deflection, past Kiely.
At the break, United took off Giggs, rather than risk aggravating his hamstring injury, while Tim Howard came on for Edwin van der Sar, with the Dutch keeper having picked up a knock.
Pompey also made changes, with Wayne Routledge replacing the anonymous Andres D'Alessandro, and Sean Davis was then taken off in favour of Andy Griffin.
Unsurprisingly, it fell to Lua Lua to try to give the Fratton Park faithful a lift and his shot, just before the hour mark, flew across goal and past the post.
Routledge then skewed a shot wide from the edge of the area as United seemed content to go through the motions in the second half before breaking out into a hive of activity around the 75th minute.
Firstly, Park Ji-sung and Rooney combined to slip van Nistelrooy in on goal, but the Dutchman's close control deserted him at the crucial moment.
Then, van Nistelrooy turned provider, clipping a cute pass into the path of Rooney, but he did not get enough loft on his shot and Kiely was able to save.
Pompey reacted with vigour and Lua Lua could have had a goal his performance merited, but he was denied by a fine save from Howard, following Routledge's clever flick.
Quick thinking by Pedro Mendes, who famously had a goal disallowed against Manchester United last season, almost brought about a consolation as his 35-yard piledriver was parried by Howard.
With three minutes remaining, Pompey did score as Routledge's mis-hit shot flew across goal to the far post where Taylor showed deft reactions to head home.
A grandstand finish could have been set up, but for the reflexes of Howard, who saved a Benjani header and Lua Lua shot as Pompey finished with a flourish, although Ronaldo almost had a hat-trick when his free kick hit the crossbar.
| Portsmouth | Team Name | Manchester United | | 1 | Goals | 3 | | 4 | Shots on target ( Inc Goals ) | 4 | | 9 | Shots off Target (inc woodwork) | 1 | | 2 | Blocked Shots | 0 | | 16 | Corners Won | 2 | | 13 | Total Fouls Conceded | 17 | | 1 | Offsides | 1 | | 0 | Yellow Cards | 0 | | 0 | Red Cards | 0 | | 50% | Possession | 50% |
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