AFC Bournemouth went down 4-1 against FA Cup winners Portsmouth this evening. Peter Crouch bagged a brace between strikes from Sulley Muntari and Jermain Defoe. Pitman netted late on for a Cherries consolation.
Cherries: Shwan Jalal, Bradbury (Hutchings 83), Shotton, Pearce (John Fletcher 87), Cummings, Cooper (Partington 66), Anderton, Bartley (Peteffer 81), McQuoid (Stephen Maher 62), Ritchie De Laet (Clive Roberts 73), Pitman.
Portsmouth: Ashdown, Little (Lauren 44), Johnson, Hreidarsson (Nugent 61), Pamarot (Ward 71), Campbell, Boupa Diop (Christophe 78), Muntari (Richie 74), Mendes, Defoe, Crouch.
Jermain Defoe and Josh McQuoid had the earliest opportunities for either side as the Cherries frustrated Pompey early on not allowing the Premiership side to flow as they did throughout the second half.
The opening goal came when Sulley Muntari found himself free in penalty area. A calm finish beyond Jalal set Portsmouth on their way.
Josh McQuoid could have equalised when through on goal from a Cherries counter attack. Anderton took the ball through midfield and played an inviting ball for the Northern Irish Youth International. McQuoid's first shot was saved by Ashdown and the follow up bounced narrowly wide.
Less than two minutes into the second half Peter Crouch scored his first Pompey goal since re-signing for the club. A free kick hit the wall and as the ball trickled through Crouch was first to react with a simple touch beyond Jalal.
On fifty-two minutes a Pedro Mendes corner was headed straight into the roof of the net by Peter Crouch for his second in five minutes.
Twenty-one minutes into the half Defoe played a one-two with Crouch and supplied a typically lethal finish to make it four.
Bartley nearly netted a consolation receiving the ball from Pitman on the edge of the box. His first time effort curled wide of Ashdown, but also the far post.
The consolation did come with ten minutes remaining. Brett Pitman put away one of the chances presented to him throughout an evening mainly played as a solitary striker. Released in the area with a ball over the top, Pitman beat Ashdown to the ball and scored with a neat finish.
