UEFA Cup - Portsmouth win to avoid wooden spoon

Eurosport - Thu, 18 Dec 06:35:00 2008

Portsmouth finished their first ever UEFA Cup campaign on a high as they beat Heerenveen 3-0 at Fratton Park.

FOOTBALL 2008/09 UEFA Cup Portsmouth's Peter Crouch and Mark Wilson - 0

Two goals from Peter Crouch and a late header from Hermann Hreidarsson saved Pompey - already eliminated from the competition going into this match - from finishing bottom of Group E at the expense of their Dutch opponents.

After an open start to the match, Tony Adams's side took control, and they took a well-earned lead on 41 minutes when Crouch headed Mark Wilson's inviting cross past goalkeeper Brian Vandenbussche.

Crouch had earlier hit the bar as well as miss several other good opportunities, but he doubled his tally less than a minute after his first when Nwankwo Kanu's mazy run forward ended with a shot that Vandenbussche could only parry into the path of the England striker for a simple finish.

Unsurprisingly, the FA Cup holders took their foot off the gas in the second half, but there was still time for a third goal as substitute Glen Little - on for the injured Armand Traore - curled in a cross that the Icelandic defender met with a well-timed run to head home in the final minute of normal time.

In the night's other Group E match, Milan and Wolfsburg played out a 2-2 draw to finish as group runners-up and winners respectively.

Eurosport

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  1. there's no denying Harry did a good job for us,­ both sides of sending the scummers down (thank you­ harry), but i can't undersstand wht harry thinks­ Spurs are a bigger club than Pompey? 5 years ago­ maybe, but now all they have is a better ground, and­ that will hopefully change soon. let harry get on with­ his life, we'll beat them at White hart lane, and­ retain the cup! Adams is doing alright, but i agree­ that Nugent should be given a regular run in the 1st­ team, and wilson also. play up pompey.

    From Simon L, on Thu 18 Dec 10:59PM

  2. MARC WILSON HAD A BRILLIANT GAME HOPE HE GETS HIS­ CHANCE AS FIRST TEAM PLAYER HE DESERVES IT

    From ann.fee, on Thu 18 Dec 8:27AM

  3. Portsmouth are like bait in the water.... get ready for­ the Jan window..... the sharks are circling....­ hahahahaha!!!!!!

    From surfwindsnow, on Thu 18 Dec 12:34AM

  4. why bleat on about harry
    move on, he has
    he got you­ further than you ever will get

    From blythremovals, on Wed 17 Dec 11:38PM

  5. firstl, harry wanted to manage a bigger club than­ portsmouth
    why blame him for adams choice
    they have a­ good team capable of winning!

    From blythremovals, on Wed 17 Dec 11:35PM

  6. i wish portsmouth wud play Kanu more

    From Lemo-Jackson, on Wed 17 Dec 10:22PM

  7. brap brap crouchy

    From First L, on Wed 17 Dec 9:53PM

  8. ...here here here 2 that tasdeon! it's hardly­ surprising that Dirty Harry was/is a reputed­ wheeler/dealer, who has shown his true­ "colours" since buggering off 2 Tottenhom. ­ Hreidersson in tonite - Hallelujah! put the flags out,­ and not b4 time!

    .....Dirty always has 2 surround­ himself wiht many coaches etc, while Tony Adams seems­ content 2 make do wiht just Johnny Metgod & Paul­ Groves - Assistant 1st team coach - so far. they could­ do with more experience though, after poor performances­ like Wolfsburg and Newcastle. PompeyTone.

    From Tony H, on Wed 17 Dec 4:01PM

  9. redknapp is a money grabber , he brought nugent then­ hoped to move him on and make some commision as he does­ all the time , just glad he is not at pompey anymore

    From Chris, on Wed 17 Dec 3:35PM

  10. Perhaps they ought to get rid of him and get in a New­ Gent!

    From Perry Neeham, on Wed 17 Dec 12:52PM

  11. nugent can't play because a certain manager now in­ north London chose to not include him in his­ squad,thanks harry,good planning

    From stephen b, on Wed 17 Dec 11:45AM

  12. Good to see quality reporting and getting your facts­ right Alex lol

    From cheese_sandwich69, on Wed 17 Dec 9:03AM

  13. Makes you wonder why Redknapp signed Nugent in the­ first place. I think he deserves a chance in the first­ 11. Shame he can't play tonight. Also Hermann­ deserves a start and it will be interesting to see­ Jerome.

    From JO STALIN, on Wed 17 Dec 9:00AM

  14. Nugent can't play as he wasn't named in the­ UEFA squad by Redknapp.

    From Almichev, on Tue 16 Dec 5:51PM
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