Etter en nimålsthriller hjemme på Fratton Park, er vårt akademilag ute av FA Youth Cup.

AKADEMIET: Etter 6-1 hjemme mot Three Bridges i 1. runde av FA Youth Cup, ble Pompeys unggutter belønnet med ny hjemmekamp i 2. runde.

Pompey ledet 3-2 hjemme mot Cambridge United i 2. runde av FA Youth Cup da klokka passerte 90 minutter. Pompeys mål hadde blitt scoret av Jamie Howell 2 og Koby Mottoh.

På overtid fikk Cambridge straffespark. De scoret på returen og dermed ble det ekstraomganger. I ekstraomgangene scoret Cambridge to ganger og så ut til å cruise inn til en komfortabel seier med sin 5-3-ledelse, men i det 114. minutt reduserte Mottoh på flott vis. Pompey presset på for et utligningsmål, men det kom aldri. Dermed vant Cambridge 5-4 mot Pompey.

Akademitrener Zash Rehman

«The game provided a rollercoaster of emotions for the boys, but they should still be proud of their efforts. When you look at where we were at the start of the season to where we are now, the group has come such a long way.

It’s our first defeat for just over two months and every single one of them gave everything – that’s all I can ask for as a coach. I thought we looked really dangerous when we got the ball out wide and sent crosses into the box. We were a threat.

Koby scored an excellent goal in extra-time and Harvey Laidlaw put in some great deliveries. There were a lot of sound individual displays. We fell a bit short and didn’t quite hit our usual standards, but were a bit unlucky not to see the game out at 3-2 ahead. There were a couple of decisions that went against us, which is part of football and something you have to deal with.

I don’t see this result as a failure – it’s a learning opportunity. They’ll learn a lot about themselves and each other. Now we’re looking for a reaction because we’ve got our Youth Alliance Cup quarter-final at MK Dons on Saturday. Then there’s a midweek league game with Plymouth, who are right up there in the table, so the boys have to dust themselves down quickly.”

2. runde FA Youth Cup: Pompey – Cambridge United 4-5 (3-3 etter ordinær tid)

Pompeys målscorere: Howell 2 og Mottoh 2.

Pompeys lagoppstilling (3-5-2): Osei-Owusu; Quarm (Bosaka 86), Spurway, Dockerill; Mottoh, Payce (c), Simpson (Hurst 106), Kamavuako (Aston 72), Laidlaw; Folarin, Howell (Murray 86)

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