Portsmouth 4-2 Man City
Return
to Main Page
From Keith Elliott for Get Your Kits Out
10th January 2004
Yakubu's second-half brace moved Portsmouth out of the bottom three but extended
Manchester City's winless run.
Dejan Stefanovic headed Pompey in front from Patrik Berger's right-wing
free-kick but Nicolas Anelka volleyed City level from Trevor Sinclair's nod
down.
City hit the bar three times before Sibierski made it 2-1 from 14 yards.
But Yakubu drilled home from the edge of the box and latched on to Arjan De
Zeeuw's long ball to score either side of a Teddy Sheringham header.
Eyal Berkovic pictured above right and below made his debut for
struggling Portsmouth following his midweek £500,000 move from City.
Portsmouth
are staying up if they play like that every week! What a game!
Kevin Keegan opted to leave Steve McMananman, who has been hampered by a
hamstring problem, on the bench and start with Frenchman Sibierski.
The home team opened brightly and Alexei Smertin wasted their first opportunity,
firing over from 16 yards, while Ayegbini failed to take advantage of a
defensive mix-up between Richard Dunne and keeper David Seaman.
The former England goalkeeper was then forced off the field after injuring his
left shoulder in a challenge with Ayegbini.
His replacement, Kevin Stuhr-Ellegaard, was beaten seven minutes after coming
on, when Stefanovic leapt unchallenged to head home Berger's free-kick after
Joey Barton fouled Berkovic.
Pompey boss Harry Redknapp
But City hit back with a well-worked goal by Anelka.
Fowler crossed to Sinclair and his header back across the box was diverted into
the roof of the net by Anelka with a measured volley.
KEY MOMENTS
19 mins: Stefanovic scores
21 mins: Anelka equalises for City
45 mins: Sibierski fires City ahead
52 mins: Yakubu levels for Portsmouth
58 mins: Sheringham extends lead
77 mins: Yakubu wraps up victory
The pace lifted and Fowler slammed a 20-yard drive onto the bar for the visitors
before Yakubu hit a stinging drive straight at Ellegard and Smertin dragged the
rebound wide.
Fowler nodded onto the top of the bar, and Sibierski curled a 20-yard free-kick
onto the bar as City hit the woodwork for the third time in six minutes.
But the midfielder finally fired Kevin Keegan's side ahead after Anelka nodded
on to end a pulsating opening half.
Yakubu started the second half in spectacular fashion, latching on to a pass
from Sheringham, who had expertly evaded Richard Dunne, to slot Pompey level.
Barton thought he had levelled again for City a minute later, but his
thunderbolt was ruled out as Anelka was in an offside position.
Sheringham headed home Berger's free-kick after Yakubu had been fouled to make
it 3-2.
And Yakubu wrapped up the victory after collecting De Zeeuw's long pass and
firing left-footed past Ellegaard to lengthen Manchester's winless streak to 14
games.
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Portsmouth: Hislop, Primus, Stefanovic, Pasanen, De Zeeuw, Hughes, Berkovic
(Harper 74), Smertin, Berger, Sheringham, Yakubu.
Subs Not Used: Wapenaar, Taylor, Schemmel, Roberts.
Man City: Seaman (Stuhr-Ellegaard 13), Sommeil, Dunne, Distin, Tarnat, Sinclair,
Barton, Bosvelt, Sibierski, Fowler, Anelka.
Subs Not Used: Wiekens, Macken, McManaman, Tiatto.
Booked: Dunne, Fowler.
Attendance: 20,120
Referee: M Messias (N Yorkshire).