2019-20: Portsmouth – Exeter 3-2 (EFL Trophy semifinale)

Wembley here we come, in a Mickey Mouse tournament, but who cares, Wembley here we come.

Det var en stærk start XI som Kenny Jackett sendte på banen, om end at med den bredde der er i truppen, så er Pompey stærke.

Det var dog gæsterne fra League Two holdet Exeter der fik en god start, og det med et ungt hold.

Efter 10-15 min af første halvleg, tog Pompey over og det samme gjorde regnen.

 

Dog uden at det skabte nogen reelle muligheder, så ved pausen stod den 0-0, og The News reporter på Fratton Park opsummerede

 

Efter pausen, begyndte Pompey at tage grebet om kampen, og det begyndte at trække op til en scoring for hjemmeholdet i regnen.

Den store chance kom til Oli Hawkins der var kommet ind efter pausen, men Exeters keeper lavede en vigtig redning for dem.

I det sidste kvarter, ja der ville Pompey godt have haft straffe, da John Marquis mente han skulle have det. I stedet, ja der røg Exeter afsted, og deres fans røg i drømmeland, da de med et flot må scorede til 0-1, med 11 min tilbage af kampen!

Det var faktisk Exeters første afslutning på mål i kampen.

Pompey fandt aldrig helt grebet om kampen, og det lignede i den grad en tur til Wembley for Exeter, men ud af ingenting ja så udlignede Harness med bare 4 min tilbage af kampen. Opspillet var første gode moment fra Pompey i kampen!

For begge hold, der lignede det nok straffe, da der ikke var noget forlænget spilletid i denne turnerings semifinale.

Men men, hvad skete der, Exeter turde angribe, og et godt indlæg fik sat Burgess under pres, og så stod centerbacken der har været så solid noteret for et selvmål.

Det var nok det, men i overtiden, ja så kom udligningen til 2-2 på et flot mål udefra af McGeehan, hvor han iskoldt fra kanten af feltet tipper den i mål

Det blev en endnu mere vanvittig afslutning, for med kampens sidste spark, der scorer Pompey til 3-2, dermed 5 mål i kampens afslutning.

 

Puha, en bet for Exeter, der førte både 0-1 og 1-2 og var så nær Wembley! Mon ikke mange Pompeyfans sender dem en varm tanke i deres kamp om direkte oprykning!

Så kunne Que sera blive spillet på Fratton Park, og omkvædet passede jo meget godt til kampen

«Que sera, sera
Whatever will be, will be
The future’s not ours to see
Que sera, sera
What will be, will be»

Dermed er Pompey klar til finalen for andet år i streg i EFL Trophy efter en solid indsats fra John Marquis der var godt tilfreds, han kom ind efter 24 min grundet skade til Ellis Harrison, men var særdeles afgørende.

https://twitter.com/i/status/1229885335691300871

 

Portsmouth manager Kenny Jackett

“Congratulations to the players because I thought we were on top in what was a really hard game.

“We had chances, but I didn’t know where the breakthrough was coming from because Exeter were defending really well and we had to persevere.

«There was a lot of hard work required because – on a few different occasions – it just didn’t look like it was going to be our night.»

“You could see the type of season that they are having and it was a very confident performance from them.

“There was a lot of hard work required because – on a few different occasions – it just didn’t look like it was going to be our night.

“But we managed to find a way through in the end and there was a terrific atmosphere inside the stadium.

“It’s great to score late on and there was plenty of character, belief and ability involved in those goals. There was quality, as well as heart.

“We’ve got determination and togetherness in that dressing room and those on the fringes will be just as delighted as those who played.

“Taking a team to Wembley is always a proud moment, but it’s tucked away now for a couple of months and we have other priorities.”

 

Exeter manager Matt Taylor

“We have used this competition for the youngsters to give them an opportunity and for the players who need the minutes. We came so close to Wembley but that sense of pride in the changing room, we have now have to turn it into a fuel to motivate us onto some success this season.”

 “In the general scheme of things, I am so pleased with that group of players. We had a bit about us in the second half but ultimately they’ve scored three goals and that’s what has cost us. There was waves and waves of pressure but we still had a threat about us and got the two goals, but we just couldn’t quite hold on, and that was due to a bit of fatigue and know-how and good play from Portsmouth.

Kommentarer fra Twitter

#pompey playing 9 first teamers v Exeter (playing 1 first teamer) in pointless cup with massive game on Saturday. Yep, well done Kenny!!!!!

There’s been a robbery on the south coast #pompey

Now that’s what you call a Semi-Final. All 5 goals in the final 15 minutes, @Pompey

weren’t winning until the very last seconds. Congratulations to #Pompey on reaching a second consecutive EFL Trophy Final. One of Newport County or Salford City awaits at Wembley… #PUP

Every @OfficialECFC player did the club proud tonight. The future is bright for those young lads. Football is a cruel game.

What a game! Boys had a never say die attitude and got it done! Play Up Pompey!!!

Mad game that Pompey v Exeter in the Checkatrade. Five goals in the last 15. Sad to say that if it had involved a PL club then the excitement would’ve been rubbed out by about 3 shite VAR delays #eflcup #pompey

Fuck promotion we want our Mickey Mouse cup #Pompey

Soooooooooo stressful being a #Pompey fan! Never do anything easy!!

 

EFL Trophy semifinal, Fratton Park, 18. februar 2020

Portsmouth – Exeter 3-2 (0-0)

79 min 0-1 Taylor

86 min 1-1 Marcus Harness

89 min 1-2 Christian Burgess (selvmål)

92 min 2-2 Cameron McGehaan

96 min 3-2 John Marquis

Pompey (4-2-3-1): Bass; McCrorie, Burgess, Raggett, Seddon; Naylor (c), Close (Hawkins 54); Harness, McGeehan, Curtis; Harrison (Marquis 24)

Bænken: MacGillivray, Bolton, Whatmough, Brown, Williams, Hawkins, Marquis

Tilskuere: 14,735 (366 away fans)