The Road To Wembley

Portsmouth ended their long wait for a second FA Cup victory as they defeated Cardiff 1-0 in the final at Wembley on Saturday.

Both Premier League outfit Pompey and their Championship opponents, Cardiff, went into the 127th cup final hoping to follow up previous respective successes in 1939 and 1927.

And it was Pompey who etched their name in the record books for the second time as a solitary first half strike from Nwankwo Kanu proved too much for Cardiff.

The series of dramatic shocks and giant-killings in this term's competition has done much to restore the nostalgic magic of the FA Cup following the 13-year domination of Manchester United, Chelsea, Arsenal and Liverpool.

Pompey and the Bluebirds, though, served up an inevitably tense finale as Kanu's goal proved to be the conclusion to the tournament and booked a place in next season's Uefa Cup.

Ahead of kick-off there was heartbreak for veteran striker Robbie Fowler, who has been battling for fitness following hip surgery, as Cardiff manager Dave Jones opted to leave the 33-year-old out of his squad.

Pompey boss Harry Redknapp, who had never previously appeared in a cup final in over 40 years as a player and a manager, named David James in goal following his recovery from a calf problem.

And former Arsenal centre-back Sol Campbell - a two-time cup winner - started after a hamstring injury, while Kanu operated as a lone frontman in the absence of cup-tied forward Jermain Defoe.

The magnitude of a final appearance was more than evident in a scrappy opening but it was Cardiff who enjoyed the better of possession, despite failing to truly threaten James.

Heavy rain ahead of kick-off made intricate passing a difficult task, but it remained Cardiff who looked the most likely to break the deadlock as James saved well from Paul Parry and Peter Whittingham dragged a half-volley wide.

However, Portsmouth then began to find their feet as Sulley Muntari floated a free-kick into the danger area and as Cardiff shot-stopper Peter Enckelman flapped, Sylvain Distin and Kanu failed to convert.

And shortly after Kanu should again have done better as he jinked round a nervous looking Enckelman with trademark quick feet, only to somehow prod his effort against the upright.

Proceedings then returned to a fashion similar to the tight opening half-an-hour with only a tame Pedro Mendes volley, which was gathered by Enckelman, calling either goalkeeper into action.

However, on 37 minutes Portsmouth had their goal as Enckelman again fumbled a low John Utaka cross at the near post and Kanu banished the memory of his earlier miss as the Nigerian reacted the quickest to poke in a volley from close range.

Almost immediately, Cardiff had the opportunity to respond as Parry broke down the left, but his far post cross asked too much of Kevin McNaughton, who could only deflect wide.

With the first half personal address system announcement of one minute added time still echoing around a sold-out Wembley, Cardiff thought they had drawn level as Glenn Loovens hooked in at a corner after James had spilled, but referee Mike Dean correctly spotted that the Dutch defender had used a hand to control the ball.

Soon after the interval, Portsmouth could have doubled their advantage as Utaka raced onto an excellent Niko Kranjcar back heel to centre from the left, but Kanu saw his goal-bound effort deflected wide by Loovens.

Portsmouth began to dominate and Jones recognised his side were losing the battle as he introduced Aaron Ramsey in place of Whittingham in an attempt to threaten in midfield.

Highly-rated winger and semi-final goalscoring hero Joe Ledley appeared Cardiff's best outlet as the 21-year-old's pace visibly troubled Pompey, but James remained a spectator.

Redknapp then opted to shuffle his hand as he replaced Utaka with striker David Nugent and Pompey looked to kill the game off, while Cardiff responded by replacing the ineffective Jimmy Floyd Hasselbaink with Steve Thompson.

Nugent almost justified his appearance with 20 minutes remaining as he latched onto a long ball from Muntari to warm the palms of Enckelman.

Papa Bouba Diop then earned a cup final appearance as he came on in place of Mendes as Pompy attempted to shut up shop, but soon after Cardiff had their best chance of the half as Loovens nodded just over the bar at a corner.

Loovens' header, though, was to be as close as Cardiff came as Pompey centre-back Distin surged forward from defence and came close to adding a second late on.

Portsmouth booked their place in the FA Cup final with a 1-0 win over West Bromwich Albion at Wembley.

The result does not tell the story of the game or do justice to Championship side West Brom, who dominated for most of the semi-final.

But Tony Mowbray's side could not find a way through and it was left to a former Baggie to condemn them to defeat as Kanu grabbed the only goal of the game.

The winner came just before the hour after Dean Kiely had saved brilliantly from Milan Baros. Then Zoltan Gera got in the way of his own keeper as he looked to clear off the line but he could only find Kanu - who made no mistake from four yards.

Albion, spearheaded by prolific veteran Kevin Phillips, who has 24 goals this season and five in the previous seven games, were first to fire as Pompey made a stuttering start.

Phillips clipped a shot over David James' crossbar from 20 yards and in the sixth minute the England goalkeeper spilled a tame effort by Gera and was thankful to see Campbell clearing up the loose ball.

Albion continued to dictate the pace, although Hermann Hreidarsson, passed fit before the kick-off after an Achilles injury, almost sent Baros clean through the inside left channel, his pass just a shade heavy.

It took nearly 30 minutes for Pompey to muster their first shot on target, and that was an optimistic 35-yard free-kick by Sulley Muntari which went straight down Kiely's throat.

James caused Pompey another flutter trying to keep Glen Johnson's back-header from going out for a corner, palming it straight back towards the lurking Phillips but recovering just in time.

But Pompey were at last beginning to exert some pressure towards half-time and Muntari got much closer for a strike after a determined solo run and drilled his shot just off target.

Redknapp resisted the temptation to make changes at the interval and the decision was justified when Pompey nosed ahead with a streaky goal in the 55th minute.

The ball finally ran for Baros following a free-kick which was turned back into the area by Glen Johnson and the Czech striker, who may have used his arm to control the ball, saw his shot palmed out by Kiely.

The keeper scrambled across his line to get another despairing touch but Gera inadvertently got in the way and the ball rebounded to Kanu who had the easiest job in the world to tap home.

Albion boss Tony Mowbray called for a double substitution on the hour as Chris Brunt and Ishmael Miller were introduced.

But Pompey were looking a different side now, full of running and Baros should have made it 2-0 on 65 minutes.

Kiely had already had to charge out of his area to stop him collecting a long, through ball but the striker - still to score during his loan spell with Pompey from Lyon - should have left him helpless from a Kranjcar pass.

Baros left the action with 20 minutes left to be replaced by David Nugent but it was West Brom who threatened next, Koren's snap-shot clipping the bar in the 73rd minute.

© Dave Wateridge