Pompey win gives life to title race
Ferdinand's error handed Pompey victory
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Saturday, 07, Apr 2007 07:29
Manchester United slid to a 2-1 defeat after being out-fought by a spirited Portsmouth side at Fratton Park.
Matthew Taylor's 23rd-minute goal set Pompey on the way to victory as Harry Redknapp's side harried and chased to knock the leaders out of their usual rhythm.
The final few minutes saw Rio Ferdinand gift the hosts a second before John O'Shea netted, but it will be of little consolation to Sir Alex Ferguson's men.
The result brings hope to Jose Mourinho's Chelsea whose now find themselves within three points of United after their own 1-0 win earlier today against Tottenham.
So often his side's saviour this season, Cristiano Ronaldo had the first meaningful effort of the match when his 12th-minute thunderbolt clattered into the advertising hoardings just wide of David James' left-hand post.
But a quarter of an hour later, Benjani surged forward down the right to lay the ball into Taylor's path for the opener.
The midfielder barely broke stride in rifling the ball beyond Edwin Van der Sar for the opener.
Manchester United toiled hard to try and force an opening in the Portsmouth back four, but for all their efforts they too often failed to stretch Linvoy Primus and Dejan Stefanovic.
Portsmouth could been further ahead but for Van der Sar's superb tip round the post from Gary O'Neil on 73 minutes.
But his good work was undone with a lapse in concentration from Ferdinand who found only the back of his own net with an attempted pass back to the Dutch stopper with just two minutes of normal time remaining.
John O'Shea rifled home from the edge of the box a minute later, but in the face of some desperate last attacks from the visitors, Portsmouth saw out the contest to the cheers of their supporters and those in west London.