Pompey`s one and only home friendly before the Premiership kicks off next weekend saw them narrowly lose 2-1 against former European Champions Porto.
Sol Campbell was presented to the crowd before the kick-off in a match that saw Glen Johnson and David Thompson make their Fratton bows. Svetoslav Todorov would score the Pompey goal in a performance that has been described as “brave and spirited.”
It would be a quiet opening ten minutes, but it would be Porto that would threaten the goal first. A good exchange of passes between Vierinha and Marek Cech would end with Cech putting his shot wide.
The first goal of the game would be very soon in coming after that however, a mere sixty seconds later Porto were ahead. Lisandro who would round Dean Kiely before putting the ball into the empty net after he had cut out a poor Noe Pamarot pass.
Kiely would have to be alert a few minutes later to keep out another Lisandro effort. A good move enabling Lisandro to hit a powerful effort that Kiely saved well.
With their first attempt of the game Pompey found themselves level through Sveotslav Todorov`s 23rd minute header. Matty Taylor`s free kick finding the head of the Bulgarian who headed into the corner.
The 56th minute would see the first real chance of the second half. Nick Jordan, who had replaced Dean Kiely at half time did well to keep out an attempted lob from Vierinha.
As with Porto`s first half goal a minute after they had previously been denied they wouldn`t be the second time. Jordan was left stranded as Cech`s free kick was wickedly deflected off Linvoy Primus and into the corner of the goal.
As often happens with friendlies a number of changes would be made by both sides which would disrupt the flow of the game, so chances were few and far between, although the 2004 European Champions almost added a third with time running out, Tarik Sektioui shooting wide.
So a 2-1 defeat to the current Portuguese Champions rounds off Pompey`s pre-season. How much has been learnt will be open to opinion. One thing that will be certain however is the season kicks off in eight days time when we face Blackburn Rovers at Fratton Park.
PLAY UP POMPEY!
Goals
Pompey – Todorov 23
Porto – Lisandro 12, Cech 57
Dean Kiely (Nick Jordan 45)
Glen Johnson
Linvoy Primus (Andy Griffin 70)
Andy O`Brien
Noe Pamarot
David Thompson (Frank Songo`o 66)
Gary O`Neil (c)
Richard Hughes (Richard Duffy 83)
Sean Davis
Matthew Taylor
Svetoslav Todorov
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