27 January 2007
Manchester United 2-1 Portsmouth

Super sub Wayne Rooney comes off the bench to push United into the Fifth Round with two outstanding goals.

Manchester United

2-1

Portsmouth

Rooney 77, 83

 

Mendes 87

The FA Cup sponsored by E.ON
Fourth Round Proper
Saturday 27 January 2007
Old Trafford





As Portsmouth prepare to visit Old Trafford for a second successive season in The FA Cup, we take a look back on their Fourth Round tie from last season when two late goals from substitute Wayne Rooney saw Manchester United edge to victory.

Rooney ghosted on to a Ryan Giggs cross to fire home in the 77th minute, then sealed the victory with a stunning lob in the 83rd.

Pedro Mendes responded with a deflected goal from the edge of the box after 87 minutes, but the home side held on.

Manchester United had already seen two goals controversially disallowed by the time Rooney opened the scoring.

After 11 minutes, a Nemanja Vidic header appeared to have crossed the line before Mendes cleared, but referee Mike Riley waved play on.

Then, on 55 minutes, Henrik Larsson was deemed offside after firing a clinical finish into the bottom left-hand corner.

On 77 minutes, a Carrick pass found Larsson on the edge of the box. The Swede played a reverse ball to the on-rushing Giggs, who crossed for Rooney to tap home.

But the moment of the game came on 83 minutes, when a Gary Neville pass found Rooney, who controlled with a perfect first touch.

The England international striker shaped to drive the ball, but instead dinked a delicious lob that left James mesmerised as it sailed into the top left corner of the net.

Portsmouth kept fighting and got one back when Mendes’ shot deflected off Nwankwo Kanu to wrong-foot Thomas Kuszczak, but it was Rooney’s night.