2008 FA Cup Final: Portsmouth VS Cardiff City

Blackleaf · 2008 FA Cup Final: Portsmouth VS Cardiff City

Cardiff City have become the first Welsh team to reach the FA Cup Final since 1927 and are now just one game away from becoming the first Welsh team since 1927, when Cardiff won it, to win the FA Cup.

Cardiff beat fellow Championship side Barnsley 1-0 in today's semi-final.

They will play Portsmouth (who haven't won the FA Cup since 1939) in the Final. Portsmouth beat West Brom 1-0 in yesterday's semi-final.

Teams that win the FA Cup normally qualify for the UEFA Cup but, unless the rules are quickly changed, Cardiff will NOT appear in the UEFA Cup if they win the FA Cup as they are a Welsh team who play in the English league, and can only qualify for the UEFA Cup by winning the Welsh FA Cup. That means that, no matter what happens, Portsmouth instead will qualify for the UEFA Cup, even if they lose.

This has been an unusual FA Cup year. This will, of course, be the first time since 1995, when Everton won it (beating Manchester Utd 1-0 thanks to a Paul Rideout goal), that a team outside the Big Four (Arsenal, Chelsea, Liverpool and Man Utd) will win the FA Cup, and the first time since 1991 (when Tottenham Hotspur beat Nottingham Forest 2-1 in the Final) that NONE of the current Big Four teams have appeared in the FA Cup Final.

Who would have thought at the start of the season that this year's FA Cup Final will be between Portsmouth and Cardiff, and that Man Uts, Arsenal. Liverpool and Chelsea all don't reach the semis?

Cardiff set up final with Portsmouth

The BBC
By Andrew McKenzie

FA CUP, SEMI FINAL (At Wembley. Attendance: 82,752)

THE BLUEBIRDS.. ....THE TYKES

CARDIFF CITY 1-0 BARNSLEY
Ledley 9

Ledley volleyed Cardiff in front

Joe Ledley scored the only goal to end Barnsley's FA Cup run and send Cardiff through to a final against Portsmouth.

Ledley volleyed them in front inside nine minutes after Barnsley failed to deal with a Tony Capaldi long throw.

The Tykes responded well but had keeper Luke Steele to thank for denying Trevor Sinclair from close range.

Steele also kept out a Gavin Rae header but Kayode Odejayi missed a glorious chance to level when he was put clean through on goal only to shoot wide.

It was by no means a Cup classic between two unlikely semi-final opponents from the Championship, but the early goal paved the way for a lively encounter.

But as with Saturday's opening semi-final at Wembley, one goal was enough to decide the game.

It came from the left boot of Cardiff-born midfielder Ledley, who reacted well to convert the first chance of the game.

Barnsley responded well to such an early setback and they enjoyed the lion's share of the first-half possession.

Dennis Souza had a header just past the post and Brian Howard wasted a good shooting chance after good work from Jamal Campbell-Ryce on the left.

The lively Odejayi got in front of Glenn Loovens at the near post but shot at Peter Enckelman.

However, Cardiff came even closer to adding to the scoreline when Steele failed to deal with a Jimmy-Floyd Hasselbaink shot but then did brilliantly to keep out Sinclair's follow-up.

Odejayi blew Barnsley's best chance of the game

Again Barnsley responded well with Istvan Ferenczi heading wide and then Sinclair cleared off the line to deny him.

The Tykes' top scorer Howard also tried his luck from long range and then headed wide from a Martin Devaney cross.

But Barnsley's need to throw men forward allowed Cardiff ample counter-attacking opportunities and Ledley was able to pick out Rae for a free header but it was too close to keeper Steele.

The moment Barnsley will rue came in the 66th minute when Odejayi was put clean through on goal and had all the time in the world to pick his spot past Peter Enckelman.

The striker scored the winner against Chelsea in the sixth round - his only goal since September - but he blew his big chance this time as he shot past the upright.

Pete Whittingham went close to giving Cardiff some daylight but his effort landed on the roof of the net.

It mattered little as Cardiff, who were playing at Wembley for the first time in 81 years, played out time to book another visit there in six weeks.

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Barnsley: Steele, Van Homoet, Foster, Souza, Kozluk (Butterfield 86), Campbell-Ryce, Hassell, Howard, Devaney (Leon 68 ), Odejayi, Ferenczi (Coulson 65).
Subs Not Used: Letheren, Togwell.

Booked: Kozluk, Campbell-Ryce.

Cardiff: Enckelman, McNaughton (Ramsey 47), Johnson, Loovens, Capaldi, Ledley, Rae, McPhail, Sinclair (Thompson 61), Whittingham, Hasselbaink (Scimeca 88 ).
Subs Not Used: Oakes, Purse.

Booked: Whittingham, McPhail.

Goals: Ledley 9.

Att: 82,752.

Ref: Alan Wiley (Staffordshire).

Barnsley 0-1 Cardiff: Joe Ledley's fine hooked shot opens the scoring as the Welsh club make a great start to their FA Cup semi-final

Defender Glenn Loovens is kept busy by Kayode Odejayi and is made to clear off the line as Barnsley threaten to equalise

Cardiff's veteran striker Jimmy Floyd Hasselbaink looks to find a way through but finds Robert Kozluk in his way

Hungarian midfielder Istvan Ferenczi nearly levels for Barnsley from a corner but sees his effort blocked by Trevor Sinclair

Kevin McNaughton survives a handball appeal in the penalty area as City make it to half-time a goal to the good

Midfielder Gavin Rae has a couple chances to double Cardiff's lead but a second goal proves elusive

Tykes manager Simon Davey urges his players forward as they gradually build the pressure on their fellow Championship opponents

Their chance arrives in the 66th minute when Odejayi is put clean through but he shoots wide with just the goalkeeper to beat

No further goals materialise as Cardiff hold on for the win that sees them face Premier League Portsmouth in next month's final

news.bbc.co.uk/sport

Abieuan

This will be the first time i've been interested in an English Cup Final - it's a bit like an international.

Guess who i'll be supporting, Blackleaf?