FA Cup Semi Final Results 2008
Portsmouth and Cardiff City Reach 2008 FA Cup Final
Portsmouth and Cardiff City won through to the final of the 2008 FA Cup final following victories in the semi finals played at Wembley Staduim.
Portsmouth and Cardiff City will contest the 2008 FA Cup final following victories over West Bromwich Albion and Barnsley respectively in the semi finals played at Wembley over the weekend of April 5th and 6th.
Portsmouth 1 - 0 West Bromwich Albion
Favourites Portsmouth, the only Premiership side left in the competition, defeated Championship side West Bromwich Albion (WBA) 1-0 in the first FA Cup semi final on Saturday April 5th.
The only goal of the game was scored by Kanu in the 55th minute when he slid the ball home after WBA keeper Dean Keily parried a shot from Milan Baros into his path. Baros appeared to control the ball with his hand during the build up, but referee Howard Webb allowed the goal to stand.
WBA had dominated possession in the first period with Portsmouth appearing to be more affected by the occasion than their more humble opponents. However WBA found it difficult to create clear openings and would have been frustrated not to have stretched England keeper David James more during the opening forty-five minutes.
Although perhaps tempted to change his line-up for the second period, Portsmouth manager Harry Redknapp kept faith with his starting eleven and Kanu rewarded him with what turned out to be the winner ten minutes later.
WBA manager Tony Mowbray brought on forwards Ishmael Miller and Chris Brunt to bolster his attack, but Portsmouth were now more confident and had a chance to seal the game in the 65th minute. Baros should have done better when clean through, allowing Keily to block his tame effort.
The excellent Carl Hoefkens went close to an equaliser when his 25-yard shot clipped the top of the bar and Miller turned his cross just wide with five minutes left. However Portsmouth hung on to reach the FA Cup final for the first time in 69 years.
Cardiff City 1 – 0 Barnsley
On Sunday April 6th, in front of a crowd of 82,752, Cardiff City beat fellow Championship side Barnsley by a single goal to take their place in the FA Cup final.
Joe Ledley scored the solitary goal in the 9th minute when he volleyed home from twelve yards after Barnsley failed to clear a long throw.
This early setback seemed to galvanise Barnsley and they dominated the rest of the first half with a neat short passing game. Cardiff only threatened sporadically and went in at half time a little flattered by their lead.
The second half continued in similar fashion, but Cardiff did have a chance to clinch the tie through Gavin Rae but he could only direct his header directly at Barnsley keeper Luke Steele.
Barnsley had a glorious opportunity to equalise in the 66th minute when centre forward Kayode Odejayi, who scored the winner against Chelsea in the previous round, had a clear run on goal but shot wide with only Cardiff keeper Peter Enckelman to beat.
This proved a fatal blow to Barnsley’s hopes and Cardiff will play in the FA Cup final for the first time since 1927.
Portsmouth Favourites to Lift FA Cup
Portsmouth will be strong favourites to lift the trophy on May 17th, but the 2008 competition has been one of the most unpredictable of recent years and who would bet with any confidence against Cardiff City providing one final upset in the oldest cup competition in the world.
