Carling Cup News: Portsmouth vs Leicester City - Full time 1-2 Report Analysis (Part 3)
Still what was interesting about the match was the fact that both teams had found loads of opportunities to score and that increased the level of excitement of the game. This also meant that goal keepers from both teams had to
make a larger number of saves now and they were met by the chants and songs of 20,000 faithful of Fratton Park.
Similarly the game would have ended very differently had Kanu or David Nugent scored on the numerous occasions they missed the net. In the match most of their chances were halved by the deficit of Pompey just before the break.
Kanu did fool around a bit and seemed somewhat careless with the ball. He kept heading wide as Nugent missed finishes. However he did make Logan into a brilliant save as the goal keeper sprang to the ball from the penalty area.
In comparison to the first half, the second half was much less by comparison, the second half was less action packed. Nugent was the man again 10 minutes into the game who tested if Logan was still up to game after the match restarted
in the second half. This time again the ball came from outside the box but the angle of the defenders and the positioning of the shot stopper was too good to for the goal to occur.
A surprising send was witnessed near to the 66th minute as Hughes was shown a red card for apparently disagreeing with the referee’s decision. This indeed mounted the pressure on Pompey more than ever before.
However the numerical drawback did not give Leicester the advantage of scoring. Portsmouth were playing under pressure but even then they were able to make plays in the midfield and produce more chances to score despite being a
man short on field.
Soon afterwards it was Lawrence again who made Logan confounded when he was pushed away with Lawrence taking a shot in the 75th minute that scored Portsmouth’s sole goal.
Now three were just 8 minutes remaining on the clock and frenzy broke out between the flanks of Portsmouth. Leicester tried to counter that wit possessing the ball more often and instead of taking the ball to the wings, they took
it deep in to the midfield.
The lifeline added into Portsmouth gave hope of a possible draw and even a victory. This caused all sleeping me to wake up and charge with full offence. This caused a large number of attempts in the dying moments of the game towards
the goal posts.
Logan became the star again as he saved an attempt at goal from Joel Ward after which Lawrence sank a low fast ball into the net on the follow up. In the end even though there was a good play from both teams Leicester went away
with the win as Cotterill and his men were left stranded at their home in search a possible equalizer.
In the match Portsmouth had 14 attempts to score a goal from which 9 of them were on target. Leicester City on the other hand had 10 attempts to score and 7 of them proved to be on target.
There were 13 fouls committed by Portsmouth as they apparently planned on exercising their home ground advantage in this factor. Leicester committed 7 fouls and were easily classified as the gentlemen on field.
Portsmouth did represent good offence but they lacked a true striker and a finisher. They captured 6 corner kicks, while in contrast Leicester managed just 2. The offsides however were at an equal 3 – 3 by both teams. The saves
made by Portsmouth were less than Leicester though and that was by a half as Portsmouth managed 5 and Leicester managed 10.
The possession of the ball was more with Portsmouth as they had it for 52% of the time while Leicester had it for 48%. There was a yellow card each gained by the two teams while Portsmouth were slapped with a red card.
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