Kanu ends Bluebirds' dream

6:36pm Saturday 17th May 2008

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Portsmouth 1 - Cardiff 0.

Kanu was Portsmouth's hero as his first-half goal won the FA Cup for Harry Redknapp's team, who had just enough Premier League pedigree to see off Coca-Cola Championship outsiders Cardiff.

But Kanu and Pompey's joy was despair for the Welsh club's Finnish goalkeeper Peter Enckelman, who palmed a low cross by John Utaka straight to the long-limbed striker, who half-volleyed home from about three yards.

And although he squandered two other marvellous opportunities in a match that failed to produce any great exciting football, he was granted a standing ovation by the delirious Pompey fans when replaced by Milan Baros for the final few minutes.

It was Pompey's 11th 1-0 win of the season, earning them a place in next season's UEFA Cup - their first European adventure to go with their first FA Cup triumph for 69 years.

Cardiff, the fifth team from football's second tier to meet Pompey in the FA Cup this season, rarely threatened after an opening burst and Portsmouth saw out the game with solid defending in front of largely under-employed goalkeeper David James.

James, back from a calf injury, had to be alert to deny the dangerous Paul Parry twice as Cardiff settled the quicker, despite Enckelman having to deal with a nasty deflection off Sulley Muntari's driven 40-yard free kick in Pompey's first attack.

After 21 minutes, Herman Hreidarsson made a muscular run down the left to feed Muntari, who turned the ball cleverly inside to Kanu. The striker had the fans on the edge of their seats with a delightful shimmy that left Enckelman in a helpless heap, but with the goal gaping, he somehow managed to roll his shot against the outside of a post.

But after 37 minutes, Pompey were handed their gift when Utaka, who had struggled to get into the game out on the right, took on Tony Capaldi and found just enough space to cross low into the six yard box. Enckelman made a hash of collecting the ball, palming it straight to Kanu, who joyfully tucked the rebound home.

It was hard to see Cardiff coming back after that, even though they had the ball in the net just before half-time when Dutch centre-half Glenn Loovens charged the ball down with his upper arm before lobbing precisely over James.

Cardiff gave it a real go right to the end, sending on Aaron Ramsay, 17, to become the second youngest player to appear in an FA Cup final but they could not break through Pompey's redoubled defence.