Portsmouth 1-0 Cardiff City: Happy Harry as Kanu goal cinches cup

IT WAS supposed to be an FA Cup final day in which the more illustrious names in English football were cast to one side for an afternoon. But it is difficult not to see Portsmouth's matchwinner Kanu in terms of the Arsenal cameo performer on such occasions previously who was yesterday at last given the opportunity to be the leading player.

The Nigerian has two previous winners medals from the competition, earned through playing a grand total of 14 minutes across two final wins for his north London employers. Yesterday, his 83 minutes on the pitch contained the telling contribution. However, even from the perspective of, ultimately, meekly mastered Cardiff, the decisive 37th minute strike had echoes of other occasions.

Until yesterday, goalkeeper Peter Enckleman's claim to infamy was allowing a throw-in to trickle under his foot and gift Birmingham a goal while playing for Aston Villa in 2002. Now that bloomer will be set aside with the Finn, on loan from Blackburn, dealing dodgily with a tame cross from the right by John Utaka. In his duties Enckleman looked about as convincing as Gordon Brown has of late, pushing the ball, almost apologetically, in to the path of Kanu...who immediately chipped it right back past him.

Cardiff never looked like recovering, after appearing the more effervescent of the two teams in the opening exchanges. In the second period it was as if they were playing out time until forced to throw everything forward in search of an equaliser.

The unfashionable nature, by degrees, of the participants in the build up brought a numbers flurry to have a bingo caller drooling. We've had peoples' finals, friendly finals and finals given the names of individuals with significance to them. In blunt terms, yesterday was the apathy final; the absence of one of England's big four for the first time in 17 years attributed to the waning interest from these clubs in their ancient cup competition.

The Welsh side were bidding to become the first side from outside the top flight to capture the urn in 28 years and claim a cup win to follow a last triumph in 1927. Portsmouth have only been separated from the FA Cup for a mere 69 years, meanwhile, and the onus rested on them to make Harry Redknapp the first English manager to guide a team to the trophy since Joe Royle helmed Everton 13 years ago. The Ninian Park side's supporters wouldn't have given much thought to Dave Jones having the opportunity to do likewise, and there was a distinctly rival nations feel to the pre-match. But for all the concern over the Cardiff fans would boo God Save The Queen, it turned out they did so only after Katherine Jenkins became the first to sing the Welsh national anthem, Mae Hen Wlad Fy Nhadua, at an FA Cup final and the first person to be jeered for doing so. Maybe it was Portsmouth supporters getting their retaliation in first.

Their team didn't adopt this approach; they seemed reluctant to rouse themselves to do anything in the early stages. A cagey affair was expected from two teams who had sparred their way to the final through good defence requiring them to land few knock-outs. Maybe it was the intoxication such occasions produce but there was no lack of enterprise and plenty of indication of backline frailty in the two teams approach.

It was a final wherein such luminaries of the game as Fratton Park keeper David James, restored to England No.1, team-mates Sol Campbell and Kanu as well as fellow ageing attraction Jimmy Floyd Hasselbaink were given a platform to show they were more time served than of a time gone by. That, however, proved a struggle for Campbell who was outpaced by Paul Parry on a regular basis, the striker tearing in behind the centre-back to collect a Joe Ledley pass 13 minutes in. The move provided the first sighting on goal for either side but it was a brief one, James alert to block at Parry's feet.

Cardiff's energy and endeavour were not being matched by their opponents. But as soon as Portsmouth's Pedro Mendes, Lassana Diarra and Niko Kranjcar began to accept the physical challenge and find their passing range the momentum began to shift and the inevitable started to seem in the wind. It didn't help that Peter Enckleman in the Cardiff goal looked fragile as he palmed a curling free-kick into no-man's land and escaped punishment for it. It proved a harbinger of what was to come.

Midway through the period, Kanu produced one of his classic graceful sleight of foot interventions to almost conjure the opening goal when he collected a Sulley Muntari pass and feinted passed Glen Loovens then glided beyond Enckleman before stubbing an effort against the post. It was symptomatic of a so-so showpiece that it was not such wonderful ability but shoddy goalkeeping allowing Kanu to settle it.

Dream day for Redknapp as King Kanu reigns supreme
Ben Jarvis at WembleyPORTSMOUTH manager Harry Redknapp described his side's FA Cup final victory over Cardiff today as a "dream come true".


Kanu was Pompey's match-winner, just as he was in the semi-final, capitalising on Bluebirds goalkeeper Peter Enckelman fumbling a John Utaka cross to tap in from close range.

The victory gave Pompey their first FA Cup success since 1939 and booked them a place in next season's UEFA Cup.

Redknapp told BBC Sport: "It's fantastic for everybody – my family, the players, it's great. It has been a difficult year off the field so to win the FA Cup is a dream come true.

"Cardiff were putting us under pressure, putting balls in the box, they played well and worked hard. When we get in front we're difficult to break down and the defence were terrific."

Goalkeeper David James added: "It was another hard game, a bit scrappy again but we deserved to win.

"The lads held tight, we've only conceded one goal in the whole competition and we've been good."

Asked about his manager Redknapp, James said: "Harry's a legend now, isn't he? Hats off, well done Harry."

Sol Campbell, part of the Pompey defence that withstood some late pressure from the Championship side, said: "It's fantastic, this is a brilliant day for everyone who's connected with Portsmouth. We worked hard, we had our luck through the rounds but in the end the result was good."

Match-winner Kanu, sporting a cap with 'king' written on it, said: "They call me king. I have to deliver and hopefully I did. I have to thank God – God made it possible for me to score.

"This is the best moment of my life. I started the game and I won the cup for Portsmouth. I have felt nothing like this."

Kanu hit the post with an earlier chance, but added: "I kept going, I kept my head down and I scored.

"You have to take your chance and that's what I did.

"Portsmouth is not one of the four big clubs, no one could believe we were going to do it and we did it."

The Nigerian now hopes to stay on with the Fratton Park club.

MAN OF THE MATCH

Not just for his goal but the delightful play that almost allowed him to make the breakthrough earlier, Kanu was the man whose artistry illuminated an otherwise sedately-lit occasion.

QUICK FACT

Harry Redknapp has waited a quarter of a century to claim his first managerial honour, the Eastender beginning his colourful trackside career at Bournemouth in 1983.


TALKING POINT

In truth, the occasion was robbed of some of its glamour by the identity of the finalists. Even the Portsmouth celebrations had an all too nicey-nice feel to them.