Report: United 2 Pompey 1
It was far from a classic cup encounter, but Wayne Rooney emerged from the bench to save the day with an archetypal striker’s finish and a delicate chip few players are capable of being audacious enough even to attempt.
Portsmouth’s late rally was not enough, although this game should long have been over before Pedro Mendes' strike was deflected in off Nwankwo Kanu in the 87th minute.
United were twice denied goals when they clearly should have stood. First Nemanja Vidic then Henrik Larsson thought they had scored before being overruled by the officials.
Sir Alex made several changes to the team that lost to Arsenal last Sunday. Tomasz Kuszczak, who played against Aston Villa in the third round, came in for Edwin van der Sar, while Rooney dropped to the bench to allow Ole Gunnar Solskjaer to partner Henrik Larsson up front. Cristiano Ronaldo, given time off by the Reds boss, was replaced by Ji-sung Park on the right flank.
United made a slow start to the match without getting into any kind of rhythm in the first ten minutes. Portsmouth had an early shout for a penalty correctly turned down by referee Mike Riley. Andy Cole flicked the ball on for Niko Kranjcar, but he was already tumbling before Kuszczak had even gone to ground to challenge for the ball.
The Reds slowly came into the game when Ryan Giggs expertly pulled back Gary Neville’s lofted long ball forward only to find nobody had anticipated his centre. Then the Welshman found Larsson’s overlapping run, but the Swede was denied a shot on goal by Portsmouth’s physically unforgiving centre-backs Linvoy Primus and Sol Campbell.
However, United should definitely have had the lead after quarter of an hour when Nemanja Vidic powered a header past David James and clearly over the line before being cleared, somewhat ironically by Pedro Mendes, who, of course, infamously had a goal disallowed here for Tottenham. On 4 January 2005 his shot from the halfway line was fumbled over the line by Roy Carroll, clear enough to everyone apart from the referee and linesman. Cruelly for United, he exacted a revenge of sorts.
United’s fans were in need of something to quell the chill in the Manchester air with the half drifting into scrappy, stop-start football. With just over five minutes remaining, supporters were warmed slightly by two excellent opportunities. Giggs broke down the left and chose to cut the ball back to Larsson instead of taking a shot but his pass was behind the 35-year-old forward and Portsmouth cleared the danger. Seconds later Michael Carrick had a powerful header saved by James, but the scores remained level at the break.
The second half started in much the same vein, prompting repeated chants of “Rooney, Rooney” from the terraces, calling for the 21-year-old to be introduced. It was out of frustration at the 0-0 scoreline, and there was more to come. After 55 minutes Neville lofted a superb ball over the Pompey back four for Larsson, who controlled the ball adroitly before lashing it past James. He wheeled away in celebration only to be confronted with the sight of the linesman’s flag raised. Television replays showed United had been denied another goal. Shortly after, James pulled off a full-stretch save to stop a Paul Scholes blockbuster.
Portsmouth had offered little other than stubborn resistance but remained in the tie; their only real chance of the half had fallen to Cole, whose weak left foot shot bobbled harmlessly into Kuszczak’s hands.
But with half an hour remaining the cavalry arrived. Sir Alex, seemingly adhering to the supporters’ demands, replaced Solskjaer with Rooney. It worked. With 13 minutes left on the clock – despite no signs of tiredness - the tie appeared to be heading for a replay. But Larsson and Giggs combined well to set up Rooney for a simple tap-in.
The United forward then grabbed his third goalin two games with a sumptuous chip to settle the tie - reminiscent of Eric Cantona's delightful chip against Sunderland a decade ago. Receiving the ball from Neville on the right, Rooney turned, assessed his options, feigned to blast his shot and then delicately lofted a shot over the stranded James.
Game over? Not quite. Portsmouth grabbed an unlikely lifeline with just three minutes remaining. Campbell’s lofted free-kick into the box was controlled clumsily by substitute Nwankwo Kanu. It fell to Mendes, who struck a low shot which deflected off his team-mate to deceive Kuszczak.
But United’s eventual victory, and subsequent place in the fifth round, was well deserved.
Team Line-ups
United: Kuszczak; Neville (c), Ferdinand, Vidic, Evra; Park, Carrick, Scholes, Giggs (Fletcher, 86); Larsson. Solskjaer (Rooney, 60).
Subs not used: Van der Sar, O'Shea, Silvestre.
Portsmouth: James; Lauren, Campbell, Primus, Johnson; Hughes (Douala, 83), Taylor, O’Neil (c), Mendes, Kranjcar (Mwaruwari, 80); Cole (Kanu, 62).
Subs not used: Thompson, Ashdown (GK).
Attendance: 71,137
From manutd.com
