Portsmouth F.C. 7–4 Reading F.C.

Portsmouth 7–4 Reading
Event 2007–08 Premier League
Date 29 September 2007
Venue Fratton Park, Portsmouth
Referee Mark Halsey (Lancashire)
Attendance 20,102

The Premier League match between Portsmouth and Reading set a record as the highest scoring match in Premier League history.[1][2] The match was played at Fratton Park in Portsmouth on 29 September 2007. Eleven goals were scored in the match, leaving a final scoreline of 7–4 in Portsmouth's favour.

Contents

Match

Summary

Two Benjani goals had the home side, Portsmouth, leading 2-0 before Stephen Hunt struck on the stroke of half-time and David James then gifted Dave Kitson an equaliser. Hermann Hreidarsson restored the lead before James atoned for his error by keeping out a Nicky Shorey penalty. Benjani restored the two-goal lead and Niko Kranjcar, Sean Davis (later credited to Ivar Ingimarsson via a huge deflection) and Sulley Muntari sealed victory, with Shane Long and a deflected goal off Portsmouth defender Sol Campbell responding late on.

Details

29 September 2007
15:00 BST
Portsmouth 7 – 4 Reading Fratton Park, Portsmouth
Attendance: 20,102
Referee: Mark Halsey (Lancashire)
Benjani  7'37'70'
Hreiðarsson  55'
Kranjčar  75'
Imgimarsson  81' (o.g.)
Muntari  90+2' (pen.)
Report Hunt  45'
Kitson  48'
Long  79'
Campbell  90+4' (o.g.)
Portsmouth
Reading
PORTSMOUTH:
GK 1 David James
RB 5 Glen Johnson
CB 23 Sol Campbell
CB 15 Sylvain Distin
LB 7 Hermann Hreiðarsson
RM 17 John Utaka
CM 28 Sean Davis
CM 8 Papa Bouba Diop
LM 11 Sulley Muntari
SS 19 Niko Kranjčar
CF 25 Benjani Mwaruwari 80'
Substitutes:
GK 13 Jamie Ashdown
DF 16 Noé Pamarot
MF 14 Matthew Taylor
MF 30 Pedro Mendes
FW 10 David Nugent 80'
Manager:
Harry Redknapp
READING:
GK 1 Marcus Hahnemann
RB 2 Graeme Murty 77'
CB 29 Michael Duberry
CB 28 Ívar Ingimarsson
LB 3 Nicky Shorey
RM 19 Liam Rosenior
CM 6 Brynjar Gunnarsson 77'
CM 15 James Harper
LM 10 Stephen Hunt
CF 9 Kevin Doyle
CF 12 Dave Kitson
Substitutes:
GK 32 Adam Federici
DF 22 André Bikey
MF 20 Emerse Faé 77'
FW 24 Shane Long 77'
FW 8 Leroy Lita
Manager:
Steve Coppell

Post-match reaction

"The first half was probably our best 45 minutes this season, but to come in having conceded in the last minute of the half allowed them back in... people say we only play one up front but today proved that it's really three and no-one deserves a hat-trick more than Benji." Portsmouth coach Joe Jordan

"It's difficult to analyse a match like that and if you try you will be there a very long time ...we scored four goals away from home and had a chance for another with a penalty. We played a full part in the game - I don't think many teams will come here this season and score four." Reading manager Steve Coppell

References