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Full Time After Extra Time This is a live match. Extra Time Half Time

Portsmouth vs Manchester United. Premier League.

Fratton ParkAttendance20,482.

Portsmouth 1

  • K Boateng (32nd minute pen)

Manchester United 4

  • W Rooney (25th minute pen, 48th minute, 54th minute pen)
  • R Giggs (87th minute)

Rooney makes Grant pay penalty

Image: Rooney: Pompey treble

Wayne Rooney helped himself to a hat-trick as Avram Grant's first match as Portsmouth manager ended in defeat.

United striker grabs Fratton Park hat-trick

Wayne Rooney helped himself to a hat-trick as Avram Grant's first match as Portsmouth manager ended in a 4-1 defeat to Manchester United. Grant's last match as Chelsea boss saw the Blues beaten on penalties by the Red Devils in the 2008 UEFA Champions League final, and he was left to rue events from 12 yards once again at Fratton Park. Rooney struck twice from the spot either side of the interval after first being brought down by Michael Brown and then converting following Frederic Piquionne's ridiculous challenge on Ryan Giggs. Kevin-Prince Boateng, who had missed a penalty in the defeat by Stoke which proved to be Paul Hart's last match in charge, had equalised after the eagle-eyed officials had spotted Nemanja Vidic pulling Piquionne's shirt. Rooney restored United's lead with his only goal of the game from open play in the 48th minute as he applied the finishing touch to a delightful move involving Darren Fletcher and Ryan Giggs. The evergreen Giggs claimed his 100th Premier League goal on the eve of his 36th birthday as he curled home a free-kick from the edge of the box in the closing moments. With Sir Alex Ferguson watching on from the stands, United closed the gap on leaders Chelsea to two points with the Blues travelling to Arsenal on Sunday. If Pompey have a fighting chance of staying up Grant will need the players left over from a fire sale over the last year - but he was denied the service of England goalkeeper David James due to a calf injury and Asmir Begovic started.

Threatened

For United, it was a case of whether Ferguson's absence in the dressing room would be a factor, although he had communication lines in place to assistant Mike Phelan and was hoping the din at Pompey's stadium would not drown him out. Sat next to chief executive David Gill in the directors' box, Ferguson saw his side enjoy plenty of possession early on and press when the hosts were on the ball. Paul Scholes had the first effort of the match, firing over when Giggs rolled a corner to the edge of the penalty area where his team-mate was left unmarked. Pompey threatened within a minute and Kuszczak, in because Edwin van der Sar had a knock to his knee, was required to block bravely when a ball was lobbed over the top of United's defence and found Aruna Dindane. Encouraged by this opening, Dindane also fired wide from long distance and headed off-target when unmarked from Jamie O'Hara's cross. O'Hara himself had an effort tipped over after Piquionne nodded in his direction on the edge of the area. Despite the Pompey attacks, United were ahead in the 25th minute through Rooney. Antonio Valencia burst forward and exchanged passes with Rooney, and when the winger pulled the ball back for his team-mate in the penalty area, the England forward waited for a clumsy challenge to arrive from Brown. Dean pointed to the spot immediately and Rooney tucked away the penalty.
Perplexed
Pompey were level, however, on the half-hour mark, although United were perplexed as to why Dean awarded it. Kuszczak climbed above Piquionne, who was having his shirt pulled by Vidic. With United in shock, Boateng smashed in the penalty after missing against Stoke last time out. Pompey enjoyed a spell of pressure before the break but United were ahead three minutes after the restart. There was nothing controversial about this effort, just Giggs weighting the ball perfectly through Pompey's defence for Rooney to place his finish home, his 10th of the season for United. His hat-trick came in the 54th minute, from the penalty spot. Piquionne was penalised for fouling Giggs - and Rooney sent Begovic the wrong way from 12 yards. Valencia could have added to the goals when he waltzed through the Pompey defence. Boateng had Pompey's best chance to get back in the game but he fired over from a promising position, and there would be no way back for Grant's men. Giggs netted with a free-kick three minutes from full-time for their fourth goal, while John Utaka saw Kuszczak divert his scissors-kick onto the crossbar at the death for Pompey.
Portsmouth Team Statistics Manchester United
1 Goals 4
1 1st Half Goals 1
8 Shots on Target 5
10 Shots off Target 4
6 Blocked Shots 5
4 Corners 8
16 Fouls 13
1 Offsides 2
4 Yellow Cards 3
0 Red Cards 0
77 Passing Success 84.6
17 Tackles 17
70.6 Tackles Success 76.5
40.1 Possession 59.9
57 Territorial Advantage 43

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