Coventry City 1-2 Portsmouth
Portsmouth will look to build on this win as they attempt to move off the bottom of the Premier League.
Tuesday, 12, Jan 2010 10:28
By Darren Plant.
Portsmouth put aside their financial problems to gain a fortunate win over Coventry City in their third round replay in the FA Cup.
Leon Best's early strike looked to have put the home side into the next round, but a last-minute own goal from Stephen Wright, and an injury-time goal in extra time from Aaron Mokoena put Portsmouth into the fourth round.
After a quiet opening, Coventry's Wright created a good chance for himself after cutting inside from the right, but his left foot shot from the edge of the box was saved by Asmir Begovic.
Portsmouth began to retain more possession, and their first effort came through Hayden Mullins, but his shot went way over the bar from 30 yards.
The home side took the lead just before the midway point of the first half. The Portsmouth backline twice failed to deal with a high ball and Best received the ball on the edge of the box and struck a superb 20 yard shot on the turn into the top corner.
Portsmouth hit back well through Kevin-Prince Boateng, but after a sharp turn in the box, his attempted pull-back was well blocked by Wright.
Boateng tested Coventry goalkeeper Kieron Westwood a minute before half-time from a similar position, but the Irish stopper saved well with his feet.
In first half injury-time, Clinton Morrison ran onto a long ball from Westwood but his first time volley was straight at Begovic as his side went into the break 1-0 up.
Like the first half, the second period began slowly, but after good work from Best, only a last ditch tackle from Anthony Vanden Borre stopped Coventry adding a second.
Just after the hour mark, a rapid Coventry breakaway saw Michael McIndoe cross for Best at the back post, but his first time volley just over the bar.
Pompey broke straight up the other end through substitute John Utaka, and he curled a shot from 20 yards just wide of Westwood's left hand post.
Moments later, Tommy Smith forced Westwood to tip over a clever effort as the away side began to build some momentum.
Danny Webber was introduced into the action and two minutes later, attempted a speculative effort from the corner of the penalty area but it drifted just wide of the far post.
Aron Gunnarsson came close to sealing the win for Coventry with four minutes to go, but Begovic did well to save low to his right, and after Morrison collected the rebound, Marc Wilson intercepted the cut-back and cleared.
However, with one minute of normal time to go, Pompey took the game to extra-time in fortunate circumstances. The ball was lofted into the Coventry penalty area, and without any Portsmouth players around, Wright headed over Westwood's head and into the net.
Portsmouth dominated extra-time with Utaka looking particularly threatening, but as the game looked to be heading for penalties, captain Mokoena headed home from 12 yards to put Pompey into the next round to play Sunderland.