Kanu wins FA Cup for Pompey

4:37pm Saturday 17th May 2008

PORTSMOUTH 1 CARDIFF 0

NWANKWO Kanu was the toast of the south coast as his first-half strike earned Portsmouth a first FA Cup triumph since 1939.

The Nigeria international's 37th-minute strike earned a 1-0 win over a Cardiff City side that contributed to an exciting showpiece at Wembley, and ensured that Pompey will experience European football in the UEFA Cup next season.

Kanu's close-range winner represented personal salvation for the veteran striker, as an earlier miss had looked like going down in the history books as one of the worst FA Cup final misses of all time.

Having turned inside defender Roger Johnson in the 22nd-minute, Kanu calmly rounded goalkeeper Peter Enckelman, only to roll the ball against the outside of the post from four yards with a gaping goal at his mercy.

The miss came at the end of an opening period in which Cardiff had settled much the better, but was forgotten once Kanu made amends 15 minutes later.

John Utaka crossed from the right, Enckelman fumbled as he attempted to gather the ball in his own six-yard box, and Kanu hooked in the loose ball from close range.

Cardiff had a goal disallowed on the stroke of half-time after David James made a goalkeeping mistake of his own - the England international flapped at a cross, only for his attempted clearance to hit Glenn Loovens on the arm before the defender hooked the ball back into the net - but the Bluebirds rarely looked like grabbing an equaliser in a low-key second half.

Kanu came close to adding a second with a shot that deflected behind off Loovens shortly after the interval, but for the second season in a row, a one-goal margin was sufficient to claim the cup.

** READ A FULL REPORT AND ANALYSIS IN MONDAY'S NORTHERN ECHO **

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