Both sides fielded a strong side with both clubs showing off their new signings.
First clear chance of the game was for Portsmouth new boy David Nugent who was set up with a cross by the imprssive Gary O'Neill only for the striker to tap it straight into the arms of Fulham goalkeeper Tony Warner. This was followed by a long distance shot from Sully Muntari. The South Coast team looked impressive as they broke again this time Nugent feeding in midfielder Nico Kranjcar whose shot fired off the post.
After this long period of domination Fulham started to show signs of determination just before the break. Simon Davies fired a wide arching cross across the box to Clint Dempsey who fired it at David James. After parrying it away Fulham's Steven Davis had hios shot knocked off for a corner by a sprawling James. The corner led to a very similar build up from Fulham with Davies again crossing in for Dempsey whose shot this time was save dlow to James' left.
Just when it looked like it was going to be a goalless first half Portsmouth capitulated and scored. Benjani back-heeled the ball to Nugent who fed the ball wide to O'Neill. O'Neill's subsequent shot was deflected of Zat Knight directly into the path of Benjani who tapped it into the net.
Ironically this proved to be Benjani's last piece of action in the game as in the second half he was replaced by LuaLua who seemed to make up a stong partnership with Muntari. It was a crafty one-two from them that set-up Nico Kranjcar to power a shot, again deflected off Zat Knight, but this time saved by substitue goalkeeper for Fulham Ricardo Batista.
New signing Diomansy Kamara nearly brought his new team level after Sylvain Distin spent too long in possesion of the ball and was dispossed by the Senagalese forward. He then went on to beat Sol Campbell and tried to chip the ball over David James only to see his effort go inches wide.
Nugent looked pacy on the ball and took advanatge of the lack of confidence that Zat Knight seemed to be showing in the game to beat him to the ball and to curl a shot towards goalonly to see his effort go wide.
As the game wore on in oppressive conditions Portsmouth defense started to get a bit lax as a long ball from midfield was not dealt with properly and led to Collin's John firing a shot for David James to save. A similar defence faux paus led to David Healey being fed in but with a lack of options he had to try a n audacious shot that found its way to Diop who drew a good save from James.
Portsmouth wrapped up the game with two strikes that could of seen them go 2-0. Muntari's 20 yard strike whisteld past the post and Gary O'Neill, the most impressive player on the field by a large margain, saw a shot crack off the post. |
