F.A. Cup final 2008 - Portsmouth Vs Cardiff City

By Simon Glanville

Snapshot: Cardiff City went down by a solitary goal at Wembley despite putting in a fantastic performance. The result was harsh on the Bluebirds, who dictated play for much of the game, especially in the first-half.

Kanu scored the only goal of the game and it was enough to give Portsmouth their first F.A. Cup win since 1939.

Team news: Dave Jones took his Cardiff City side to Wembley in the hope of emulating the heroics of 1927, the year the Bluebirds won the F.A. Cup for the first and only time. It was a tough call for Jones on who to include in his squad and who to start. Despite much speculation, Robbie Fowler did not make the 16 after five months out with a hip injury. Instead, Paul Parry partnered Jimmy Floyd Hasselbaink upfront. Jones decided to go with experience rather than youth in midfield as Aaron Ramsey was dropped to the bench, with a midfield four of Peter Whittingham, Stephen McPhail, Gavin Rae and Joe Ledley starting the game. There were no surprises in the back five, with Peter Enckelman in goal, and Tony Capaldi, Roger Johnson, Glen Loovens and Kevin McNaughton in defence.

With Jermain Defoe cup-tied, Pompey boss Harry Redknapp's biggest decision was who to play upfront. Kanu got the nod ahead of Milan Baros and Dave Nugent with Portsmouth sticking to their 4-5-1 formation. In midfield Pedro Mendes came in for Papa Bouba Diop to partner Lassana Diarra and Sulley Muntari in central midfield with Nico Kranjcar and John Utaka on the wings. David James was passed fit and replaced Jamie Ashdown in goal and Sol Campbell returned at the back to partner Sylvain Distin, with Glen Johnson and Herman Hreidarsson at full-backs.

Chronological report: After the usual pre-match hype, including performances by Lesley Garrett and Katherine Jenkins, the game got underway in front of a huge crowd at Wembley. It was a sea of blue inside the stadium, with both Cardiff and Portsmouth fans proudly wearing their blue home shirts.

Straight from the kick-off Diarra won a free-kick for Portsmouth after running through in midfield. Muntari struck it from way out and in the end it was a comfortable save for Enckelman.

Paul Parry then raced clear at the other end but was thwarted by David James as the game started at a frantic pace.

Glen Loovens then surged forward for Cardiff and was only inches away from being put through by Joe Ledley.

Cardiff certainly looked the more urgent of the two sides to get forward in the opening stages, and they won a corner after Pedro Mendes cleared Tony Capaldi's long throw. The corner was cleared by Pompey, but again it was the Bluebirds who looked to press.

Ledley almost created something out of nothing but Pompey managed to clear, and then Jimmy Floyd Hasselbaink was brought down by Diarra after Cardiff broke away.

Cardiff won another free-kick when Pedro Mendes' poor pass was won by Paul Parry and he was fouled. In the opening ten minutes Cardiff certainly showed they were up for the game.

And City nearly got the opening goal. Joe Ledley played a great ball in for Paul Party only for David James to save at his feet. Peter Whittingham then went even closer but James watched his deflected shot fall just wide of the post.

There was confusion in the city box seconds later though, as a Muntari cross from the right was parried by Enckelman when it looked like it was going wide, and city just managed to clear. Diarra then shot on the follow-up and Enckelman was pleased to see it go past his post.

McPhail then won a free-kick for Cardiff in a dangerous position after he was fouled by Glen Johnson. Whittingham whipped it in and it was cleared by Sol Campbell for a Cardiff corner which James came to collect.

Portsmouth then carved out their first golden opportunity. Hasselbaink gave the ball away and Pompey quickly switched it out wide to Kranjcar. He fed Muntari and his low cross found Kanu, who turned Loovens and then dummied past Enckelman, but his shot from an angle hit the post when he should have scored.

Cardiff immediately responded, as Ledley was fouled just on the edge of the Pompey box by Glen Johnson, but the set-piece was wasted. Parry then won another corner for Cardiff after beating Campbell to the ball. Again, Cardiff didn't produce anything from the set-piece.

Ledley then won another free-kick on the left-hand side after being brought down by Muntari. Whittingham again whipped it in and Roger Johnson saw his header go just over the top, with David James worried in the Pompey goal.

Ironic cheers filled the ground as Pompey won a free-kick, after Gavin Rae fouled Mendes, but Cardiff dealt with it with ease and it ran out for a goal-kick.

Hasselbaink then nearly created something after dribbling past Johnson and Campbell into the Pompey box but his cross was cleared. From the clearance Pompey went straight down the other end and Kanu saw his curling shot go comfortably wide.

Glen Johnson then weaved past Ledley on the right and his cross was parried by Enckelman, who then had to save from Mendes' long-range effort on the follow-up, although the strike was straight at him.

Portsmouth then took the lead against the run of play. John Utaka managed to get his cross in from the right, and Enckelman again failed to deal with it, as his parry left a simple finish for Kanu to give the Premiership side the lead.

GOAL: PORTSMOUTH 1 V 0 CARDIFF. KANU. 37

The goal lifted Portsmouth, and they won another corner seconds later after Ledley had to clear when in danger. Enckelman again chose to punch and this time his clearance was stronger.

Cardiff were still looking dangerous though, and after Paul Parry found acres of space on the left, his low cross was shot wide by Kevin McNaughton, who did well to get there.

With half-time approaching, Cardiff won a free-kick on the right hand side after Roger Johnson was fouled. Whittingham crossed it and Johnson had to clear for a corner. City thought they equalised moments later, after Glen Loovens bundled in from the corner, but the Dutch defender handled in the process.

That was the last action of the half, and despite going in behind, the Bluebirds had been the better side in the opening 45 minutes.

HALF-TIME: PORTSMOUTH 1 V 0 CARDIFF

The second half started at a slower pace than the first, as neither side took control.

Ledley was putting himself about though, and won a free-kick on the far left touchline after being chopped down by Utaka. Whittingham's cross was met by Roger Johnson, and via a deflection off a Pompey defender his header flew into the side netting. However a goal-kick was given and a number of city supporters thought the header had gone in.

At the other end it was nearly 2 - 0, after Diarra surged forward and found Kanu, but his shot was chested away from safety by Glen Loovens for a corner.

Whittingham then broke down the right, and was clipped by Kranjcar, who was booked by referee Mike Dean.

Kranjcar then won a free-kick after nearly dribbling through the Cardiff defence, but Loovens blocked him unfairly. Glen Johnson then won a corner off Joe Ledley, as the game hit a quick pace again. The ball came out to Muntari, and his fierce shot went just over the top of the city goal.

It was Portsmouth who were beginning to look the more dangerous, and a mazy run by Utaka was only stopped by a full-stretch Loovens.

Dave Jones then made his first change of the afternoon, bringing on youngster Aaron Ramsey in place of Peter Whittingham, which brought huge cheers from the Cardiff fans.

Cardiff substitution: Aaron Ramsey for Peter Whittingham. 61.

Chances were at a premium for both sides, as the game became scrappy.

Pompey boss Harry Redknapp then made his first change, brining on forgotten man Dave Nugent in place of John Utaka.

Portsmouth substitution: Dave Nugent for John Utaka. 70.

Dave Jones then made his second change, brining on Steve Thompson for Hasselbaink.

Cardiff substitution: Steve Thompson for Jimmy Floyd Hasselbaink. 71.

Finally a chance came, as Nugent forced Enckelman into turning his fierce shot around the post after shooting from a narrow angle. Glen Johnson then headed wide from the resultant corner.

Joe Ledley then saw his long-range effort go over as Cardiff looked for a way back into the game.

Cardiff then won a corner to give the crowd a lift, after Ledley's cross was deflected out. Roger Johnson won the header from the corner, but his tame effort went wide.

The Bluebirds began to throw men forward, and Ramsey whipped in a great cross from the right which caused problems for Portsmouth.

Harry Redknapp then made his second change of the afternoon, bringing on Papa Bouba Diop in place of Pedro Mendes.

Portsmouth substitution: Papa Bouba Diop for Pedro Mendes. 78.

Cardiff then won another corner after Thompson's cross was cleared by Hreidarsson. Roger Johnson again got on the end of it, but his downward header bounced over the top of James' goal.

With ten minutes to go it was still all to play for, and Ramsey was starting to come into the game for the Bluebirds, to the delight of Cardiff fans.

After a slick passing move by Portsmouth, centre-back Sylvain Distin then went on a run from the back that nearly brought a goal. Only the presence of Enckelman stopped the Frenchman putting his side further ahead.

Harry Redknapp then made his final change of the afternoon, bringing on Milan Baros in place of goal scorer Kanu, and Dave Jones made his final change, taking off Gavin Rae in place of the more attacking Trevor Sinclair.

Cardiff substitution: Trevor Sinclair for Gavin Rae. 86.

Portsmouth substitution: Milan Baros for Kanu. 86.

Cardiff then had a golden opportunity to get back into the game when the ball fell to Ramsey inside the box, but the fall wouldn't fall for the young midfielder and Pompey eventually cleared.

Pompey immediately broke up the other end and won a corner after Baros put himself about.

With the clock ticking down, the announcement of four minutes of added on time was greeted by a roar from the Cardiff fans.

Cardiff were throwing everything forward, and David James had to be aware when Parry was closing in.

Diarra was then booked for time-wasting as Portsmouth looked to run the clock down.

Roger Johnson then had a great chance to equalise, but his goal bound shot was blocked and cleared to safety by the Portsmouth defence.

And that proved to be the final chance for Cardiff, as referee Mike Dean blew the final whistle to end the Bluebirds dreams. It was a fantastic effort from Cardiff, who on another day could have quite easily come out on top.

FULL-TIME: PORTSMOUTH 1 V 0 CARDIFF CITY

Cardiff City: Enckelman, McNaughton, Johnson, Loovens, Capaldi, Whittingham (Ramsey 61), McPhail, Rae (Sinclair 86), Ledley, Parry, Hasselbaink (Thompson 71). Subs not used: Oakes, Purse.

Portsmouth: James, Johnson, Distin, Campbell, Hreidarsson, Utaka (Nugent 70), Diarra, Pedro Mendes (Diop 78), Muntari, Kranjcar, Kanu (Baros 86). Subs not used: Ashdown, Pamarot.

Goals: Kanu, 37.

Referee: Mike Dean

Attendance: 89, 874.