Portsmouth emerged from the wreckage of relegation and financial meltdown to beat Tottenham at Wembley and set up an FA Cup final date with Chelsea.
Avram Grant's side have experienced both ends of football's emotional scale in the space of 24 hours - recovering from finally seeing relegation back to the Championship confirmed by upsetting overwhelming favourites Spurs with two goals in extra-time.
Tottenham, with former Pompey boss Harry Redknapp in charge and with one-time Fratton Park stars Jermain Defoe and Peter Crouch in their starting line-up, edged a colourless first 90 minutes before Grant's underdogs struck in the extra period.
Wembley's appalling playing surface took a large share of the responsibility for the lack of quality on show, playing a crucial role in the goal that sent Grant on his way to a final date against his old club Chelsea nine minutes into extra-time.
Michael Dawson lost his footing as he went to make a clearance and Frederic Piquionne pounced to beat Heurelho Gomes from eight yards and lay the foundations for Pompey's unlikely progress.
As Spurs threw men forward in desperation, the excellent David James made a crucial block from Vedran Corluka before victory was sealed in front of Portsmouth's ecstatic fans three minutes from time.
Wilson Palacios hauled down Aruna Dindane and former Tottenham star Kevin-Prince Boateng added another layer of irony on this semi-final of many sub-plots by rifling home the penalty.
Tottenham fans deserted Wembley in droves instantly - this was a day of joy for Grant and his players, who mixed desire, determination and occasionally desperation to record a landmark triumph.
Pompey have been on the brink of extinction as they fight for their very survival, and yet their FA Cup run has provided relief amid their turmoil and they now have the chance to finish this season with a flourish against holders Chelsea
Spurs will rue a succession of missed chances in normal time, with Crouch the main culprit, although James tormented him with a succession of fine saves, including a crucial block with legs with just seconds left of the 90 minutes and the scoreline still goalless.
Redknapp was gracious in defeat as he embraced Grant at the final whistle - but Spurs will be devastated, having gone into this semi-final with such high hopes and ended it dejected and empty-handed.
It was also the catalyst for two harsh bookings for Dindane and Tom Huddlestone. Dindane's feet clearly went from under him as he attempted to tackle Palacios, while the striker was then on the receiving end of a collision with Huddlestone, who was also betrayed by the pitch.
Both sides did manage to fashion opportunities, with James saving well from Crouch's header before acrobatically clawing Huddlestone's long-range effort over the top.
Pompey's best chance fell to Piquionne, who could only strike the outstretched left leg of Gomes as he raced clear into the penalty area.
Piquionne was guilty of wastefulness in front of goal again after 55 minutes when he headed tamely at the exposed Gomes from Dindane's cross.
This was the signal for Redknapp to make the change Spurs' fans had been demanding as he sent on Roman Pavlyuchenko for Defoe, who had cut a subdued figure for most of this semi-final.
Crouch should have taken advantage of a moment of uncertainty from James after 68 minutes, but he headed off target after the keeper failed to deal with David Bentley's corner.
And Pompey had another escape when Aaron Mokoena diverted Corluka's cross towards his own goal, only to recover as Crouch closed in.
Crouch was getting into the danger areas without providing the finishing touch, and he was frustrated again with 15 minutes left as he headed Gareth Bale's cross off the outside of the upright as James scrambled to regain his position.
And the striker was denied again deep into injury-time when he looked certain to score from Bale's low cross, but could only divert his finish against the legs of James, condemning a game low on real quality to 30 minutes of extra-time.
After surviving all the pressure Spurs had inflicted upon them it was Pompey who broke the deadlock nine minutes into the extra period - and once again an accusing finger could be pointed at the pitch.
Dawson slipped attempting to clear a routine free-kick and the ball fell invitingly for Piquionne to slip the simplest of finishes under Gomes. It was cruel on Dawson but Pompey's joy was unconfined.
Spurs thought they had swiftly restored equality when Crouch bundled the ball into the net, but referee Alan Wiley adjudged that Niko Kranjcar had fouled James as he challenged for Bale's cross.
Suddenly, there was desperation in the air for Spurs and they were almost caught on the break by John Utaka, but he wasted the final pass and Luka Modric was able to recover.
James, who had stood firm, then blocked Corluka from point-blank range before Pompey broke again to score the second and decisive goal.
Palacios was beaten for pace by Dindane and left Wiley with an easy decision to point to the spot.
Boateng slammed home the kick and the remarkable story of Portsmouth's season of struggle will have another chapter against Chelsea at Wembley next month
15 Replies
21847 Views