Plymouth go top of League One with win over Portsmouth

Posted Sunday, February 12, 2023 by PA

Plymouth returned to the League One summit following a thrilling 3-1 home win over Portsmouth.

Ryan Hardie’s cool stoppage-time finish made sure of victory and sent Argyle two points clear of Sheffield Wednesday and eight of third-placed Ipswich.

Portsmouth could have taken the lead when Joe Morrell’s shot flew across the face of goal with goalkeeper Callum Burton beaten.

But there was no-one to add a finishing touch and Argyle countered, with Sam Cosgrove scoring. The striker tapped in after Pompey goalkeeper Josh Oluwayemi failed to hold Callum Wright’s stinging shot.

Pompey midfielder Marlon Pack went close with an audacious long-range lob after 36 minutes when he spotted Burton off his line, but the ball flew just over the bar.

Di’Shon Bernard to clear Wright’s goal-bound header off the line at the start of the second half as Plymouth pushed for a second.

And it arrived though substitute Finn Azaz in the 70th minute. The loanee skipped through the offside trap before calmly slotting the ball low into the corner past Oluwayemi.

Pompey pulled a goal back in the 79th minute as a corner hit an Argyle defender and substitute Reeco Hackett smashed home.

But with the visitors pressing for a leveller, Hardie’s cool finish from strike partner Sam Cosgrove’s pass on the counter sealed victory.