Portsmouth shock Tottenham to reach FA Cup final (Reuters)

Sunday, April 11, 2010

* Portsmouth set up last with Chelsea

* Spurs sunk by Piquionne as well as Boateng

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By Martyn Herman

LONDON, April 11 (Reuters) - Debt-crippled Portsmouthemerged from a maelstrom of a stormy season upon Sunday to reachthe FA Cup last with a shock 2-0 better of Tottenham Hotspur.

The south coast club, who were relegated from a PremierLeague upon Saturday as well as were rated 9-1 by bookmakers to beatSpurs, produced a display full of quarrel to strech a culmination forthe second time in 3 seasons having knocked about Cardiff in 2008.

Tottenham Hotspur were overwhelming favourites to set up aMay fifteen showdown with Chelsea though after 90 mins of stalemate,goals from Frederic Piquionne as well as former Tottenham playerKevin-Prince Boateng sent Portsmouth’s armed forces of fans intoraptures.

Wembley’s pitch, that came underneath glow upon Saturday afterChelsea’s 3-0 semi-final victory over Aston Villa, again proveda huge talking indicate as Portsmouth’s opener came as a directresult of Spurs skipper Michael Dawson losing his footing.

Tottenham additionally had reason to feel hard done by when PeterCrouch had a idea disallowed prior to long after Piquionne’s openerbut a north London bar could have couple of complaints about theresult as Portsmouth showed more desire.

Manager Harry Redknapp, who directed Portsmouth to victory atWembley two years ago against Cardiff prior to withdrawal to joinTottenham, embraced his conflicting series Avram Grant warmly atthe last whistle prior to trudging off for a post-mortem.

His side have usually 3 days now to pick themselves up fora crucial Premier League compare against Arsenal when better couldwreck their hopes of finishing fourth.

RELEGATION TURMOIL

Of Portsmouth̵! 7;s star ters upon Sunday, usually screw David Jamesbegan a Cup last in 2008, such has been a misunderstanding during theclub that went in to administration in Feb with debts ofaround 70 million pounds ($107 million), triggering a nine-pointdeduction that virtually condemned them to relegation.

Many of their players upon Sunday are unlikely to be during theclub subsequent season though for 120 mins they fought for a badgewith a pride as well as passion that Tottenham did not match.

Piquionne was a thorn in Tottenham’s side all afternoon,twice breaking transparent in a initial half to force good saves fromTottenham screw Heurelho Gomes.

Tottenham softened after a break as well as Crouch, a single ofseveral players who jumped ship with Redknapp to White Hart Lanefrom Fratton Park, wasted multiform chances prior to being denied byan intrinsic save by James in blocking time.

With a Pompey fans in full voice a decisive momentarrived nine mins in to additional time when a giveaway kick washoisted in to a Spurs area.

Dawson seemed poised to transparent a knock down though his feetwent from underneath him as well as he could usually watch in abhorrence asPiquionne, a player upon loan from Lyon, pounced.

Tottenham were stung in to action as well as appeared to haveequalised roughly rught away when Crouch turned a round in fromclose operation though referee Alan Wiley ruled that Niko Kranjcar, aCup leader with Portsmouth, had fouled James.

The Pompey Chimes were in full cry with 3 mins to gowhen Boateng kick Gomes from a penalty spot after WilsonPalacios brought down a robbery Aruna Dindane.

Portsmouth are a initial bar to strech a FA Cup last inthe same season as removing relegated since Middlesbrough alsogot through to face Chelsea in 1997.

(Editing by Pritha Sarkar; To question or comment upon this storyemail sportsfeedback@thomsonreuters.com)



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