Kanu lifts Portsmouth into the final, 1-0

WEMBLEY, England -- Nwankwo Kanu sent Portsmouth into its first FA Cup final since 1939 in a 1-0 victory over West Bromwich Albion on Saturday.

The former West Brom striker scored the only goal of the semifinal at Wembley in the 54th minute as Portsmouth -- the only Premier League club left in the competition -- made sure English soccer’s top league will have a team in the final.

In the May 17 final, also at Wembley, Portsmouth will face either Barnsley or Cardiff, two Championship clubs who play today at the home of English soccer.

“It’s great for Portsmouth to be getting to a cup final. Where we were two years ago and five years ago it’s amazing,” said Coach Harry Redknapp, referring to the club’s annual struggles to avoid relegation.

Playing the attacking soccer which has brought 78 league and 16 FA Cup goals this season, five-time FA Cup winner West Brom gave Portsmouth a sixth-minute fright when England goalkeeper David James failed to hold a firmly struck shot from Zoltan Gera.

James also had a blunder later in the first half when he fumbled a simple back header from teammate Glen Johnson but recovered in time to stop Kevin Phillips from scoring against his former club.

Portsmouth, going strong in the top half of the Premier League, didn’t have a shot on goal until Sulley Muntari’s 35-yard free kick in the 29th minute and the midfielder fired a dipping shot just too high just before halftime.

Portsmouth began to squeeze the midfield to stop West Brom’s attacks and went ahead in the 54th minute. West Brom goalkeeper Dean Kiely did well to block the first shot from Milan Baros, Gera tried to clear the ball off the line, but it rolled to Kanu who booted it home from five yards.