Pompey battled admirably and showed real grit to make it to their second final in three years but the South Coast side certainly had the rub of the green. Perhaps they deserve it after such a terrible year.
With the score at 0-0 and the game into extra- time, Spurs centre back Michael Dawson became the umpteenth player to slip on the Wembley surface over the weekend. Unfortunately for Dawson, he did it on his own six yard line as he moved to intercept a routine knockdown in the box.
With his marker grounded, Frederick Picquionne had a simple finish to put Portsmouth a goal to the good. If Spurs fans were bemoaning their luck about that incident, far worse was to come.
Peter Crouch soon had the ball in the net at the other end with a trademark volley but referee Alan Wiley disallowed the goal for an infringement on the goalkeeper. The look on Pompey keeper David James’s face said everything about the decision- he clearly felt that his team had dodged a bullet.
The ‘foul’ was against Nico Krancjar who did nothing but jump to head Gareth Bale’s cross. James came flying out to meet it, missed the ball but inevitably collided in mid-air with Krancjar- the Spurs player didn’t move at all in the keeper’s s direction but was still penalised for the collision.
Any Spurs fans who still felt it might be their team’s day had their optimism punctured when Aruna Dindane then went on a curving run towards the penalty area. Midfielder Wilson Palacios tracked the run all the way but couldn’t get a tackle in until the pair were inside the box.
Inevitably the tackle was clumsy and Wiley gave a penalty- despite the fact that Palacios did get a touch on the ball. Kevin Prince-Boateng delivered the final blow by despatching the spot-kick.
Now Portsmouth can make history. No side has been relegated and won the FA Cup in the same season though several reached the final. Middlesbrough were the last in 1997 and Pompey fans are beginning to think their club is the one to overturn this particular hoodoo.
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