Pompey reach Semi-Final

With United guilty of wasting a number of gilt-edge chances, Pompey made the most of their one brief exertion into the United half in an exciting second half.

Niko Kranjcar escaped down the right and his through ball allowed Milan Baros a run on goal, only for substitute goalkeeper Tomasz Kuszscak to haul down the striker.

Kuszscak received his marching orders, forcing Rio Ferdinand to take his place in between the sticks.

But there was nothing the England defender could do to prevent Muntari scoring and sealing a memorable victory for a plucky Portsmouth side.

The Portuguese star, who has so often been the nemesis of Redknapp’s side, started in menacing fashion against a resolute Portsmouth backline.

He soon started to make inroads and after a sublime piece of trickery, Ronaldo found himself inside the penalty area before being brushed to the floor by Sylvain Distin.

With Old Trafford crying out for a penalty, referee Martin Atkinson waved away the appeals of the home players much to the disbelief of the United manager.

Having weathered the early storm, Portsmouth grew in stature as the first-half wore on and Kranjcar’s stinging effort saw Edwin Van der Sar forced into a sharp save.

United were forced into a change at half-time with Kuszczak replacing Van der Sar, who was forced to leave the field with a groin problem.

But that failed to knock United out of their stride and they almost took the lead just before the hour mark through Ronaldo.

The midfielder seized on some indecision at the heart of the Portsmouth defence, but could only stroke his effort agonisingly wide of the post from 18-yards with James beaten.

With the home fans growing increasingly frustrated at their own team’s inability to find the breakthrough, Portsmouth started to look more confident with substitute Baros adding pace to the visitors' attack.

United continue to misfire in front of goal with both Ronaldo and Patrice Evra failing to make the most of their opportunities.

United made two changes with Michael Carrick and Anderson replacing Tevez and Owen Hargreaves and it almost proved an inspired move from Ferguson.

Having only been on the pitch a matter of seconds, Carrick found himself clean through on goal but his weak effort was partially saved by James, before the midfielder’s subsequent effort was somehow cleared off the line by Distin.

The Portsmouth goal appeared to be living a charmed life and Evra was the next to be denied as James produced a magnificent save to push the Frenchman’s effort on to the post and away to safety.

United continued to lay siege to the Pompey goal with Ronaldo and Carrick both going close, but the game was turned on its head in typical FA Cup fashion.

Portsmouth, who had hardly been out of their half in the second period, broke at lightning speed and once Krancjar had played Baros through on goal, Kuszscak rushed out only to bring Baros down.

Spurred forward by the majority of the crowd, United continued to pummel away against a determined Portsmouth backline.

However, the visitors calmly negotiated four minutes of injury-time and can now look forward to walking out at Wembley in the last four of the competition.