UEFA Cup - Milan late show denies Portsmouth

Eurosport - Fri, 28 Nov 10:45:00 2008

Milan scored two late goals to deny Portsmouth a UEFA Cup Group E win in a 2-2 draw at Fratton Park.

FOOTBALL UEFA Cup Milan Portsmouth-Milan Inzaghi - 0

The result means Milan qualify for the last 32, while Pompey need to get at least a win and a draw in their next two matches, away at Wolfsburg and at home to Heerenveen on December 4 and 17.

Neither side deserved to be on the losing side as, while Portsmouth had better possession and created more chances, veteran Rossoneri striker Inzaghi hit the woodwork three times before his 92nd-minute leveller.

'Pippo' hit the inside of the post after Andriy Shevchenko's free-kick was deflected into his path on 11 minutes, sent a lob off the top of the crossbar a quarter of an hour later and headed Clarence Seedorf's cross off the outside of the post with 13 minutes remaining.

Until Ronaldinho's equaliser, Pompey looked like the European giants although while they were under-strength without Jermain Defoe, Niko Kranjcar, John Utaka and Sol Campbell, their opponents fielded a B-team with the exceptions of Kaka, Mathieu Flamini and Gennaro Gattuso.

But an inspired triple substitution by Rossoneri boss Carlo Ancelotti changed the shape of the game: Ronaldinho, Alexandre Pato and Seedorf were all introduced later in the game and they tore apart a tiring home defence.

The grandstand finish left a sour taste in the mouth for Portsmouth and particularly for in-form England right-back Glen Johnson, who said afterwards that Ronaldinho's 84th-minute free-kick should never have been given.

The former West Ham and Chelsea man, whose marauding performance was reminiscent of former Milan star Cafu, beat men for fun and sent in regular deep, hanging crosses, one of which Kaboul headed in on 62 minutes and another that Kanu slid into the roof of the net nine minutes later.

But with six minutes of regular time remaining, Johnson was adjudged to have fouled Ronaldinho 25 yards out when replays suggested he had won the ball and that the Brazilian made the most of the situation.

There was little doubt, however, in the former Barcelona star's execution. The ex Gremio and Paris St-Germain forward sent a quite exquisite curling effort over the wall that dipped and swerved into the top right to give David James no chance.

Milan were down and out until Ronaldinho's goal but the remaining nine minutes saw them force Pompey's backs against the wall.

There was a sense of inevitability when arch-poacher Inzaghi controlled a speculative high ball in the six-yard box and poked past James to silence the previously buoyant home crowd, but in truth it was a classic match worthy of the billing of Pompey's second-biggest behind their victorious FA Cup final appearance.

In the other Group E match, Wolfsburg striker Zvjezdan Misimovic scored a winner deep into injury time to hand the German side a 3-2 win at Braga.

The Portuguese hosts were leading 2-1 with seven minutes remaining thanks to an Andrea Barzagli own-goal and a an Albert Meyong striker four minutes after the second-half restart. Edin Dzeko had levelled for the visitors in between Braga's goals.

But Misimovic converted and 83rd-minute penalty and sealed the win in the fourth minute of stoppage time to send Wolfsburg second in the group.

Reda Maher / Eurosport

Comment 57 - 76 of 76

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  1. italians rule

    From marjusrafaeli, on Mon 1 Dec 6:59PM

  2. What a great game! I am, have been for years, and always will be an AC Milan fan (being half English-half Italian), but Portsmouth played outstandingly. They should be proud of a draw against one of Europe's giants...

    From wrc555s, on Sun 30 Nov 2:53PM

  3. Everybody's talking about how it was a milan B team yet Pompey had six players out who would have probably started the game. Defoe, Diarra, Kranjcar, Campbell, Utaka were all injured while davis started on the bench. The simple truth is that Portsmouth were no more at full strength than Milan and were it not for a poor decision when Johnson clearly won the ball then Pompey would have won.

    From stuart James B, on Fri 28 Nov 3:58PM

  4. ...Harry who? "Judas" Redknapp?? ha ha! Milan were classy, but didn't realy deserve the draw, following the tackle "that wasn't" by Glenn Johnson v Ronaldinho........
    Pompey deserved what would have been a great win....... even Glenn Johnson was really gutted afterwards, though he didnt' admit it to the channel 5 cameras.
    Play up and on Adams' Pompey!........ bring on Blackburn for another good match and great Fratton Park atmosphere on Sunday!

    From Tony H, on Fri 28 Nov 2:12PM

  5. Bravo Milan

    From shabansyla, on Fri 28 Nov 2:10PM

  6. Nice.

    From ferit_k, on Fri 28 Nov 12:15PM

  7. i will tell the truth in this article,aned say that pompey were the underdogs in this match,and proved to the world that when the want to play they they can,i will also say that the reason this match ended in a draw is because we had the pace over millan but there determination and experience got them 2 class finishes in the end,overall a fair result in the end, ok u could say that milans chances would have meant a win if they would of gone in,but they didnt and thats football,how many times in other games do chances come and go,what matters is,is that milan are a much bigger club than pompey and pompey made the fans proud ,and good luck to them for there other games

    From shaunsadler83, on Fri 28 Nov 12:08PM

  8. I reckon theres nothing between all these guys Ronaldihnio, kaka, messi ronaldo. I dont tink you can say they are better than anyone. Yeah Ronaldo excelled last season but he isnt replicating it this season, Ronaldihnio has be rubbish for two seasons but seems to have a new lease of life in Milan colours, All the great players seem to have excellent World cups or Euro cups and then they just seem drained the year after, it hapens time and time again. Great players come back again though so you just have to wait and see.

    From Tom, on Fri 28 Nov 10:49AM

  9. 2 @#$% class milan goals

    From Harry, on Fri 28 Nov 10:34AM

  10. Porthsmouth actually gave a good but show, but make no mistake about it, MILAN fielded a team B with exception of zambrotta,kaka, Gattuso and flamini. Even at that,If Ur an unbiased viewer, You could see Milan didn't take Portsmouth seriously,for that, they almost punished with an embarassing loss but MILAN showed class with those late substitution.
    Because of the power of the British press, there is so much noise about British teams, premiership teams in particular, no doubt, the last 3 or 4 seasons have seen the premiership come to the limelight, but its been over-blown,overrated. Cristiano Ronaldo excelled last above most players, but he's certainly not the best player in the world. Messi and Kaka , even Ronaldhinho are all better than him. LETS BE FAIR IN OUR JUDGEMENT AND DO THINGS RIGHT

    From del piero, on Fri 28 Nov 10:34AM

  11. Milan deserved a win with Filipo's 3 posts. It's just like it says in Early Doors today: He spends most of his time complaining about referee decisions or in offside but apart from that he scores important goals. He's the leading goalscorer in European competitions, meaning better than Raul, better than Henry, better than Sheva better than everyone! He has killer instincts in front of goal so who cares if he can't dribble or take free kicks or do anything else but score important goals. People were laughing when he started the 2007 Champions League final. WELL THEY'RE NOT LAUGHING NOW

    From martin.mitevski26, on Fri 28 Nov 10:32AM

  12. portsmouth couldn't hold on to a lead if there was a dog on the end of it!!!

    **UNITED 4 LIFE**

    From tracey4dwyer, on Fri 28 Nov 10:31AM

  13. For me, Filippo Pippo Inzaghi is the greatest goal-scorer/poacher of all time!!! An older version of the Ruud. Never write him off in any match, for you will surely regret it. He's simply a goal machine. I am an unashamed admirer of The Great Pippo...
    On the other hand, Adams should not have substituted Kanu (another classy legend!), except he was injured or something. Both Milan goals were scored after he had left the pitch.
    Portsmouth will now have to win their remaining matches to scale through, not an easy task.
    Bon week-end ŕ tous !

    From Kukuski, on Fri 28 Nov 10:10AM

  14. For me, Filippo Pippo Inzaghi is the greatest goal-scorer/poacher of all time!!! An older version of the Ruud. Never write him off in any match, for you will surely regret it. He's simply a goal machine. I am an unashamed admirer of The Great Pippo...
    On the other hand, Adams should not have substituted Kanu (another classy legend!), except he was injured or something. Both Milan goals were scored after he had left the pitch.
    Portsmouth will now have to win their remaining matches to scale through, not an easy task.
    Bon week-end ŕ tous !

    From Kukuski, on Fri 28 Nov 10:06AM

  15. Italian league= dullest league in the world

    From Tom, on Fri 28 Nov 10:02AM

  16. MILAN WAS TAKIN THE PISS N THERE PENSIONERS ?? PORTSMOUTH WAS @#$%

    From mcpluker, on Fri 28 Nov 9:58AM

  17. Whooooa!I've been browsing the comments and it seemed nobody took notice of comment number 19. Any takers sexyhotsd.. whatever... I think you got into the wrong forum. Better luck next time. Anyway, it was a great game last night and whatever the result, both teams did well!!!!

    From cuervogold_00, on Fri 28 Nov 9:34AM

  18. Magnificent game ! Worthy of GREAT teams. Milan showed their true worth at the end but Pompey were playing some of the best football I've ever seen them playing. Simply WORLD CLASS

    From joe scribe, on Fri 28 Nov 9:27AM

  19. Total makeshift team, a point is all they needed and got. Won't be the team that lines up on the weekend thats for sure. Or in the UEFA Cup final. Only Villa from England in this seasons UEFA could have a chance against the full strenght Milan line up. Shows how little Pompey were regarded kust looking at the team last night. NINE changes from the regular line up.

    From lee, on Fri 28 Nov 9:27AM

  20. very funny No' 37 ;-))

    From Chris W, on Fri 28 Nov 9:14AM
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