FOOTBALL Live

Wednesday December 17, 2008 Finished

3 - 0

Portsmouth

  • Crouch 41’, 42’
  • Hreidarsson 89’

Heerenveen

  1. Portsmouth win to avoid wooden spoon

    Portsmouth win to avoid wooden spoon

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

  • Live Commentary

    Time:90'
    • Portsmouth
    • Heerenveen
    • 90' The final whistle goes at Fratton Park, and Portsmouth's European adventure concludes with something of a happy ending after all. After a performance like that, Pompey fans can only look back and wonder what could have been...
    • 89' GOAL!! Glen Little's delivery is met by a well-timed run from Hermann Hreidarsson who heads an excellent header past Vandenbussche to put the icing on the cake for Pompey!
    • 87' Wilson chips in another one of his inviting crosses but this time Nielsen heads it clear. Belhadj bashes into Janmaats and he's lucky the referee didn't see that - he could have off!
    • 86' Popov intercepts a cross-field ball from Belhadj and skips down the wing... He's muscles out for a throw-in.
    • 81' Portsmouth have a free-kick in a promising position, just a yard out of the area. Mvuemba STRIKES... Into the side netting!
    • 80' Changes for either side here, as Davis replaces Diop for Pompey and Janmaats comes on for Grindheim.
    • 78' Belhadj puts in a great delivery and CROUCH CAN HEAD IN HIS FOR HAT-TRICK... Glanced wide of the goal! Pompey are getting so many balls into the box that Crouch could still take home the match ball yet.
    • 75' Crouch is waiting for a cross to drop for him but Svec jumps in and ALMOST BEATS HIS OWN KEEPER! Vandenbussche had to make a good reaction save!
    • 71' Heerenveen push men forward for a corner. Crouch only half-clears but the visitors can't find a way through and Hreidarsson hacks away in lacklustre fashion.
    • 68' Paolo Henrique gets to the byline with the ball but dribbles it out of play under pressure from Wilson.
    • 67' Popov has a - erm - pop from distance, but it's a comfortable save for Ashdown.
    • 61' Armand Traore goes down the tunnel as Glen Little comes on to replace him.
    • 58' Traore is on the sidelines being treated, but it looks as though he won't continue.
    • 57' Heerenveen beginning to gain some attacking possession, and as Traore pulls up Henrique IS THROUGH... Wide of the mark with only Ashdown to beat!
    • 55' Diop powers forward now and feeds Traore. Belhadj gets it on the overlap and crosses in... Kanu misses it and it's cleared for a corner beofre it reaches Crouch. Portsmouth really putting Heerenveen to the sword tonight.
    • 49' Just the one change at half-time by the way - Roy Beerens, perhaps Heerenveen's most impressive player, is replaced by Tarik Elyounossi.
    • 48' Portsmouth have started the half content to stroke the ball around. The pressure is all on their Dutch visitors now. Papa bouba Diop tries a shot from distance... It's awful, but the strike is greeted with ironic cheers from his home fans.
    • 46' The second half is underway, with Portsmouth shooting at the Fratton End for the rest of the match.
    • 45+1' That's the last action of the half, and Portsmouth go in as leaders.
    • 45+1' Portsmouth have another free-kick on the rigth wing, but Mvuemba can only cross it right to Vandenbusschen.
    • 42' GOAL!! Kanu goes on a wonderfully mazy run and forces his way through three Heerenveen defenders before he SHOOTS... Parried by Vandenbussche but into the path of Crouch who taps in his second goal in as many minutes!
    • 41' GOAL!! Wilson has time to send in another of his teasing crosses and this time Peter Crouch gets his header spot on - headed downwards past the keeper to give Pompey a deserved lead!
    • 39' Pompey have a free-kick and Mvuemba will tkae it. Crouch, Kanu and Hreidarsson are all in the box but MVUEMBA SHOOTS... Good save by the keeper, who gets down low very quickly to stop and hold the effort.
    • 37' Wilson floats in a cross for Crouch to attack... HEADED WIDE!! Crouch should have at least forced a save there.
    • 35' Smarason kicks the ball out as Grindheim is clattered by Hughes. The Pompey captain for the night apologises and play carries on.
    • 32' Pamarot picks the ball up and SHOOTS FROM 40 YARDS... Off target but it had the keeper worried! That got the Fratton faithful off their seats!
    • 30' Breuer's replacement finally comes on, and it's the Icelandic Amor Smarason.
    • 29' The Heerenveen captain Breuer has hobbled off the field, but no one has come on to replace him yet! Portsmouth have a one-man advantage as well as the upper hand right now.
    • 28' Portsmouth have a corner. Crouch rises highest to HEAD... An easy catch for the keeper as Crouch nods the ball back across goal but nobidy was there to follow up.
    • 26' Traore beats Breuer down the right but Dingsdag does well to block the cross. The Pompey winger has been a constant nuisance for Heerenveen.
    • 24' Heerenveen are really under it now, with Kanu and Mvuemba linking up well as they try and feed Crouch.
    • 22' Portsmouth are having their best spell of the game so far, with Mvuemba and Diop both regularly coming forward to join the attack.
    • 19' Mvuemba comes forward and crosses to the far post for CROUCH... Intercepted but there are appeals for handball... Nothing given! Vandennbusche claims the loose ball and Heerenveen escape.
    • 16' Wilson drives a diagonal ball forward for Crouch. Nice one-two between Crouch and Kanu and CROUCH... Nice play by the Pompey attack, but the shot is no good.
    • 12' This has certainly been an open start to the match, neither side wants to finish bottom of Group E.
    • 10' Crouch loses his marker and controls Wilson's ball with his chest... OFF THE BAR!! He had to rush the shot as the defender was back to intercept, but what a chance!
    • 8' Traore takes his turn to sprint forward and he crosses from the left for CROUCH WHO MUST SCORE... He misses the ball from two yards out! The defender did well to put him off.
    • 5' Roy Beerens bursts into the Pompey box from the left and SHOOTS... He hits the post with Ashdown beaten!
    • 3' Nice move through midfield by Pompey as Kanu comes deep to receive it. He gives it to Mvuemba, but his sloppy pass kills a promising move.
    • 1' The match is underway!
    • 19:44 Jamie Ashdown gets a rare start in goal, while Kanu and Peter Crouch head up what most be the lankiest attack in all of Europe. You may recognise the name Gerald Sibon in the Heerenveen side - the former Sheffield Wednesday striker heads up the Dutch attack.
    • 19:40 Did somebody say dead rubber? We won't hear of it! Pompey may have almost beaten Milan on their turf, but they are still looking for their first win in the group stages.
    • 19:38 Hello and welcome to Eurosport-Yahoo!'s LIVE coverage of Portsmouth v Heerenveen in the UEFA Cup!

  • Summary

    • 89' GOAL!! Glen Little's delivery is met by a well-timed run from Hermann Hreidarsson who heads an excellent header past Vandenbussche to put the icing on the cake for Pompey!
    • 78' Belhadj puts in a great delivery and CROUCH CAN HEAD IN HIS FOR HAT-TRICK... Glanced wide of the goal! Pompey are getting so many balls into the box that Crouch could still take home the match ball yet.
    • 75' Crouch is waiting for a cross to drop for him but Svec jumps in and ALMOST BEATS HIS OWN KEEPER! Vandenbussche had to make a good reaction save!
    • 57' Heerenveen beginning to gain some attacking possession, and as Traore pulls up Henrique IS THROUGH... Wide of the mark with only Ashdown to beat!
    • 42' GOAL!! Kanu goes on a wonderfully mazy run and forces his way through three Heerenveen defenders before he SHOOTS... Parried by Vandenbussche but into the path of Crouch who taps in his second goal in as many minutes!
    • 41' GOAL!! Wilson has time to send in another of his teasing crosses and this time Peter Crouch gets his header spot on - headed downwards past the keeper to give Pompey a deserved lead!
    • 39' Pompey have a free-kick and Mvuemba will tkae it. Crouch, Kanu and Hreidarsson are all in the box but MVUEMBA SHOOTS... Good save by the keeper, who gets down low very quickly to stop and hold the effort.
    • 37' Wilson floats in a cross for Crouch to attack... HEADED WIDE!! Crouch should have at least forced a save there.
    • 32' Pamarot picks the ball up and SHOOTS FROM 40 YARDS... Off target but it had the keeper worried! That got the Fratton faithful off their seats!
    • 19' Mvuemba comes forward and crosses to the far post for CROUCH... Intercepted but there are appeals for handball... Nothing given! Vandennbusche claims the loose ball and Heerenveen escape.
    • 10' Crouch loses his marker and controls Wilson's ball with his chest... OFF THE BAR!! He had to rush the shot as the defender was back to intercept, but what a chance!
    • 8' Traore takes his turn to sprint forward and he crosses from the left for CROUCH WHO MUST SCORE... He misses the ball from two yards out! The defender did well to put him off.
    • 5' Roy Beerens bursts into the Pompey box from the left and SHOOTS... He hits the post with Ashdown beaten!

Live Team Line-Up

  • Portsmouth

    Manager: Tony Adams

    Captain: Richard Hughes

    Starting line-up

    • J. Ashdown
    • M. Wilson
    • N. Pamarot
    • H. Hreidarsson Goal
    • N. Belhadj
    • A. Mvuemba
    • P. Bouba Diop Substitution Out (80′)
    • R. Hughes
    • A. Traore Substitution Out (61′)
    • P. Crouch Goals×2
    • N. Kanu

    Subs

    • S. Distin
    • D. James
    • S. Davis Substitution In80′
    • J. Defoe
    • G. Little Substitution In61′
    • N. Kranjcar

    Injured

    None

    Suspended

    None

  • Heerenveen

    Manager: Trond Sollied

    Captain: Michel Breuer

    Starting line-up

    • B. Vandenbussche
    • K. Bak Nielsen
    • D. Dingsdag
    • M. Breuer Substitution Out (30′)
    • G. Popov
    • M. Svec
    • M. Vayrynen
    • C. Grindheim Substitution Out (80′)
    • P. Henrique
    • R. Beerens Substitution Out (46′)
    • G. Sibon

    Subs

    • T. Elyounoussi Substitution In46′
    • M. Kopic
    • C. Jong a-Pin
    • A. Smarason Substitution In30′
    • D. Deekman
    • D. Janmaat
    • H. Zeistra

    Injured

    None

    Suspended

    None