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KAN-U believe it, Pompey?
Warren Fernandez Sun, Apr 06, 2008 The Straits Times
London - Nwankwo Kanu yesterday fired Portsmouth into their first FA Cup final since 1939. He scored in the 54th minute to give his side a 1-0 win over his former club West Bromwich Albion. Pompey will face another Championship side in either Barnsley or Cardiff, who play each other in today's second semi-final, at Wembley on May 17. ''We're over the moon,' said Portsmouth's Harry Redknapp, after he was handed a golden opportunity to earn his first top-level silverware as a manager.

'We struggled to get hold of the ball in the first half. They overloaded us in midfield, and it worked for them.

'But we improved in the second half, and I was quite comfortable once we got the goal.'

West Brom, who started yesterday fourth in the second-tier Championship, will now have promotion to the Premier League as their sole priority.

Kevin Phillips, their former England striker, insisted that Portsmouth were lucky to win.

He accused the officials of failing to spot Milan Baros' handball in the build-up to Kanu's goal.

'I don't think we deserved to lose. I think everyone has seen what a good quality team we are,' he said.

'On overall play, did they deserve to win the game? I don't think so.

'We know what officials are like in big games. They tend to bottle it a bit. Portsmouth were very lucky.'

With Jermain Defoe cup-tied, Portsmouth had a mediocre first half, with only one shot of note, while the underdogs impressed.

But they sparked into life when Kanu put Pompey in front.

Fellow striker Baros chested down a long through-ball and saw his shot on the turn saved one-handed by former Pompey goalkeeper Dean Kiely.

But the goalkeeper could only take the pace off the shot and the ball continued to roll agonisingly towards the goalline, where the lurking Kanu then sent it into the net.

West Brom almost had an equaliser in the 74th minute but, with England goalkeeper David James beaten, Slovenia midfielder Robert Koren could only hit the crossbar.

As stoppage time played out, Kiely joined his teammates in the box for a corner, but there was to be no final twist in this Cup-tie.

Portsmouth's third 1-0 victory in as many rounds guaranteed them a return to Wembley.

AFP