Man Utd 0-1Portsmouth 03/08/2008

Final Score: Man Utd 0-1 Portsmouth



Harry Redknapp's FA Cup curse struck Manchester United again as Portsmouth won a dramatic quarter-final clash.

Highlights

First Half



Second Half



Sulley Muntari scored the winner from the spot with 12 minutes left after Milan Baros was upended by United's substitute keeper Tomasz Kuszczak.

Kuszczak, who replaced Edwin van der Sar at half-time, was sent off and Rio Ferdinand took over in goal.

United went close to scoring, Sylvain Distin denying Michael Carrick on the line and Patrice Evra hitting a post.

The surprise win took Portsmouth back to Wembley for the first time since 1939 for the semi-finals and ended United's hopes of repeating their 1999 treble triumph.

And for Redknapp, who has previosuly knocked United out of the FA Cup with Bournemouth and West Ham, it was a day of triumph.

Paul Scholes, Carlos Tevez and Owen Hargreaves all returned to United's starting line-up after the Champions League victory over Lyon - and they met with stubborn and well-organised Portsmouth resistance.

United were understandably furious after six minutes when Cristiano Ronaldo was clearly bundled over by Distin as he raced into the area, but referee Martin Atkinson ignored the appeals, to the clear disgust of Sir Alex Ferguson.

Pompey rarely threatened, but United keeper Van der Sar was in some discomfort as he scrambled to save a long-range shot from Niko Kranjcar.

United missed a glorious chance to break the deadlock after 18 minutes when Tevez and Wayne Rooney led a counter-attack, but the England striker was blocked by keeper David James.

The rebound fell for Tevez, but Glen Johnson made a superb recovery to block his goal-bound effort on the line.

James had been well-protected by his defence, but he needed to be sharp to drop to his right and save a low drive from Tevez.

It had been a very satisfactory first half for Portsmouth, but United had a problem in the interval when keeper Van der Sar withdrew through injury and was replaced by Kuszczak.

Pompey almost came unstuck in a goalmouth scramble after 57 minutes, when Tevez was blocked by defenders on the line and Ronaldo's shot snaked just inches wide.

United were taking control, and Evra should have done better than cross behind Tevez after being put clear into the area by Rooney.

Ferguson made a double change after 67 minutes, sending on Anderson and Carrick for Tevez and Hargreaves.

And Carrick was the central figure in a remarkable escape for Portsmouth three minutes later.

Ronaldo's brilliant back-heel played him into area and a goal looked certain as he rounded James, but Distin made a miraculous recovery to make the clearance.

United were turning up the heat, and James then stretched to make a superb save from Evra, turning his shot on to the post.

After surviving a second-half siege, Portsmouth broke out to take the lead in remarkable circumstances with 12 minutes left.

Kranjcar broke down the right and played in substitute Baros, who was felled by Kuszczak. He was shown the red card by referee Atkinson despite the fact that Rooney and Anderson were patrolling the goal-line.

Ferdinand went in goal as replacement, but he stood no chance as Muntari drilled home home the penalty with the minimum of fuss.

Barnsley 1-0 Chelsea 03/08/2008

A second-half header from Kayode Odejayi was enough to dump Chelsea out of the FA Cup and take Championship Barnsley into the semi-finals.

Highlights

First Half



Second Half



Odejayi netted the winner from six yards out after connecting with Martin Devaney's superb right-wing cross.

The striker also had a shot saved by Carlo Cudicini, while Istvan Ferenczi struck the post with a half-volley.

Chelsea's best chance fell to Joe Cole who struck his angled shot wide from close range.

The last time Barnsley reached the semi-finals was in 1912 - they went on to win their one and only FA Cup that season.

And if they show the sort desire that has seen them overcome Premier League giants Liverpool and, now, Chelsea then few would bet against them picking up their second title.

The Tykes good play started at the back with Chelsea lone marskman Nicolas Anelka often left redundant by Stephen Foster and Dennis Souza who gradually became adept at forcing the Frenchman out wide.

At the other end, Tykes big man Odejayi was a huge nuisance to Chelsea, using his bulk well while holding and releasing intellingently.

The only concern for the home support was that he had not scored since September, but he came close to ending that barren run during a minute spell that saw Simon Davey's side squander two good opportunities.

The first fell to forward Ferenczi, whose volley rattled the foot of Carlo Cudicini's left-hand upright.

And moments later, Odejayi forced his way into the area but his low angled shot was pushed away by the Chelsea shot-stopper.

Avram Grant's men were limited to half-chances, with Cole twice denied by the impressive Robert Kozluk who got his body in the way on both occasions to prevent the England international from netting.

Straight after the break, Cole was presented with arguably his best opportunity to hand the visitors the lead but once again his nemesis Kozluk did enough to force the midfielder to screw his shot wide from eight yards.

Chelsea cranked up the pressure in the second half, knowing that a replay would not benefit a team still fighting on two other fronts.

But try as hard as they did, the team lacked ideas and even with the introduction of attacking duo Salomon Kalou and Claudio Pizarro they failed to carve open the stubborn Barnsley defence.

And as they pressed forward, space was left at the back. That space was exploited by Devaney on the right wing who delivered a stunning ball to the far post for Odejayi to nod past the hapless Cudicini.

The Barnsley area resembled the Alamo in the final 15 minutes, but somehow the Tykes warriors held firm to book their passage into the last four of the FA Cup.