: Original text from Official Site : Translated by webmaster

	2001.11.03
	SHEFF WED 2 POMPEY 3 - A FULL TIME REPORT
	FIRST HALF Pompey kicked off in their orange change strip towards the Spion Kop End where the home supporters were congregated. The game got off to the most extraordinary start with a goal to Wednesday after 26 seconds. Pompey had lost possession from the kick off and the ball was played forward to Simon Donnelly who got in behind Edinburgh who took it in his stride and slotted the ball past Kawaguchi. The debutant keeper�fs first touch in the English First Division was to pick the ball out of the back of the net, but in truth he had absolutely no chance with the goal. There was all out attacking from both sides in the early minutes, with Pompey having Harper and Pitt out wide on the flanks as evidence of their attacking intentions, and both defences looked very uncertain. The Wednesday uncertainty brought an equaliser from Peter Crouch after six minutes, when he was left in yards of space four yards out. When a cross reached him the tall striker had time to chest it down and ram the ball past keeper Pressman. Minutes later a quality cross from Prosinecki found Lee Bradbury close in but he mistimed his jump and could not get a head on the ball. Morrison shot wide for Wednesday from distance and then slack play from Pompey led to a long-distance shot from Quinn that was comfortably saved by Kawaguchi. After the breathtaking first 10 minutes the game settled into a scrappy affair enlivened only by a super save from Pressman from a Peter Crouch header after a fine O'Neil cross had set him up. But then the game came alive again in the last minutes of the half thanks to some electrifying attacking play from Pompey. In an amazing three minutes Pompey had three gilt-edged chances and Crouch converted the last to make it 2-1 to the Blues. First Crouch had a great volley, from a precise cross from Pitt, tipped over by Pressman. Then from the resultant corner Primus hit a fierce volley from three yards that brought a magnificent save from Pressman. The onslaught continued with Bradbury missing a gilt-edged chance by dragging the ball wide of the goal from ten yards after being put in. Finally Pompey got their reward on 38 minutes when Bradbury unselfishly squared the ball to Crouch who shot home. Three minutes from the break Wednesday hit the post in a rare attack but Pompey�fs fine attacking play had enabled them to go in front after the shock of that very early opener by the home side. SECOND HALF A great run by Morrison led to Sibon shooting wide and then Morrison himself brought a sharp diving save from Kawaguchi, as Wednesday played toward their noisy Kop fans in the second half. There was a passionate look about Wednesday and Primus cleared a dangerous situation before Pompey had to deal with two successive corners. Then out of the blue came a wonderful goal from Neil Barrett on 58 minutes. He ran 40 yards and, despite being pulled back, went on and coolly scored with a precise finish to put Pompey 3-1 up. On 65 minutes Bromby should have scored but Kawaguchi was very alert and got down to block the shot. A minute later the Wednesday pressure told when Linvoy Primus conceded a penalty by tugging Bonvin�fs shirt in the area. It looked a harsh decision but Sibon scored easily to make it 3-2 with 24 minutes still left on the clock. It was a Jekyll and Hyde performance by the Blues ? electrifying up attacking play that could have brought more goals but uncertain and troubled in defence. Two minutes later Justin Edinburgh was booked for a late tackle as the game became more physical. In a rare attack by Pompey Kevin Harper blazed over the bar in a great chance when he had time and space to put the game beyond Wednesday. Now it was a question of whether Pompey ought to bring on defensive cover from the bench as they came under heavy pressure but surprisingly with 10 minutes left attacker Steve Lovell came on to replace Lee Bradbury up front. First Quinn missed a great chance by shooting into the side netting when Wednesday had players queuing up to score the equaliser, and then Bonvin similarly did not punish Pompey when he was played in. There was a really hostile atmosphere from the 18,000 plus Wednesday fans and they were driving their team on to greater efforts as Pompey struggled to hold their lead. Lovell relieved the pressure with a great long run before Neil Barrett was harshly booked for a challenge. It had been a baptism of fire for Kawaguchi and from the free kick he climbed high to claim the cross. Two minutes later he made a sharp interception at the near post to relieve the danger. Then on 90 minutes Bonvin was in on goal but was thwarted by a brave challenge by Kawaguchi who was injured in the process. Three minutes into stoppage time Kawaguchi twice desperately saved dangerous situations as Pompey hung on desperately. When the whistle blew it heralded a memorable victory for Pompey in a remarkable match which saw them display two contrasting sides to their play. In attack they were simply devastating and quite simply could have scored six in the first half but in defence it was desperation stakes throughout. In the end the three scored were enough but it was a pulsating match played in front of a passionate crowd. Graham Rix�fs courage in going for victory with two wide men handsomely paid off in the event, Peter Crouch�fs finishing was decisive and Yoshikatsu Kawaguchi can look back with some pride on his performance after the worst possible start.(Portsmouth FC Official Site)