Fantastic Frederic downs Birmingham

Posted Sunday, March 07, 2010 by Teamtalk.com

Pompey, who won the famous trophy in 2008, are heading to The Arch again in the semi-finals after an inspired second half display in the last-eight tie at Fratton Park on Saturday lunchtime.

After a drab first 45 minutes Piquionne crashed home two goals in three minutes to send Pompey through to the last four of the competition.

John Utaka, one of three survivors in the starting XI from the 2008 FA Cup-winning team, was the first to have an effort on goal, taking just eight seconds to drill a shot at Joe Hart.

David James then made a smart save in the 16th minute. Lee Bowyer unselfishly set up Jerome and James denied the striker with a save at the near post.

But aside from that, the first half became a midfield battle with Bowyer and Michael Brown leading each side. One tackle from Brown, on his central-midfield opponent, earned a yellow card.

It meant flowing football did not figure high on the agenda.

The second-half started at a quicker tempo and with 58 minutes on the clock Jamie O'Hara surged in behind the Birmingham rearguard and clipped a ball to the back post that Piquionne headed back across goal before Barry Ferguson cleared the ball to safety.

The match was finally clicking into top gear and Seb Larsson crashed a half-volley towards goal that James tipped over, however the referee gave a goal-kick.

Piquionne then slipped into space and saw a powerful effort blocked by Roger Johnson, before the French striker saw another shot gathered in by Hart in the Blues goal. Hart then had to be alert to tip a bending O'Hara effort around the post for a corner, but from the resulting flag kick Pompey opened the scoring.

Birmingham failed to clear the ball and after Danny Webber was denied from close range, Piquionne finished from a yard out.

And just three minutes later Piquionne (70) doubled the home side's lead with a fine strike. O'Hara fed Piquionne in down the right and the striker turned Johnson inside out before shooting low under Hart.

With 10 minutes Blues should have had a lifeline. Liam Ridgewell headed home from close range, but the referee deemed the whole ball had not crossed the line and Birmingham were denied what looked like a legitimate goal.