LONDON - Portsmouth paid dearly for two defensive clangers as they were beaten 3-1 by Fulham at Craven Cottage on Sunday.
With both sides needing a win to ease their English Premier League relegation fears, Portsmouth started well and took the lead after 32 minutes through Congolese winger Lomana LuaLua's
curling effort.
Fulham's French midfielder Steed Malbranque had a penalty saved on the stroke of halftime but the home team eventually levelled on the hour through Andy Cole.
With nine minutes left Portsmouth's Dutch defender Arjan de Zeeuw failed to connect properly with an attempted header back to his goalkeeper and Fulham's US striker Brian McBride hooked the ball into the net.
Then in stoppage time Portuguese forward Luis Boa Morte caught Portsmouth defender Linvoy Primus in possession and coolly slotted home Fulham's third to seal a vital victory.
The result lifted Fulham two places to 14th on 33 points. Portsmouth, in 16th place, have 31 points, five more than third-bottom Crystal Palace who occupy the last relegation place.
- REUTERS
