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Kanu fires Pompey to FA Cup victory over Cardiff

17/05/2008

Nwankwo Kanu scored the winning goal for Portsmouth as they overcame Championship side Cardiff City 1-0 in the FA Cup final at Wembley.

Kanu struck ten minutes before half-time when Peter Enckelman palmed John Utaka's cross into his path and the Nigerian striker bundled the ball home from close-range.

It was a deserved win for Portsmouth who enjoyed the best of the chances, but Cardiff also held their own and shared equal possession with their Premier League opponents.

Glenn Loovens thought he had equalised Kanu's strike but referee Mike Dean adjudged there had been a handball in the build-up to his shot which ended up in the Pompey goal.

Kevin McNaughton went close for the Bluebirds early on but his deflected shot went narrowly wide of David James' upright.

Midway through the first half Pompey fashioned the most clear-cut chance of the match but Kanu failed to finish it. Sulley Muntari sent the striker free and he rounded Enckelman only to hit the post from a narrow angle.

It was not long before he atoned for his error. Muntari again caused trouble for the Cardiff defence and Kanu was on hand to tap home when Enckelman spilled the ball at his feet.

Loovens was having a good game at the heart of the Cardiff defence but he had to be alert again at the start of the second half to block a goal-bound effort from Kanu.

The Bluebirds were struggling to force themselves on Pompey and manager Dave Jones decided to bring on 17-year-old Aaron Ramsey to provide a spark before he hauled off the ineffectual Jimmy Floyd Hasselbaink.

Loovens went close for Cardiff one more time as he headed a set piece just over the bar.

However, it was Pompey who were deservedly victorious and captain Sol Campbell lifted the trophy to the delight of his team-mates and the Pompey fans.