30 October 2006, by Sean Gillen

Rocket man Mendes strikes as Portsmouth go fourth

Portsmouth 3-1 Reading

Portuguese midfielder Pedro Mendes was on the scoresheet, but was then lucky to avoid a late red card for handball as Portsmouth moved up to fourth with a win over Reading at Fratton Park.

The home side produced an impressive performance against the Premiership new boys, and had the points wrapped up with time to spare as goals from Nwankwo Kanu and Mendes added to an early Gunnarsson own goal. Portuguese Manuel Fernandes was absent from the home line-up, rested after several recent starts.

Mendes played a big part in the opening goal of the game. The former Porto midfielder swung a corner towards the near post, and Icelandic defender Gunnarsson headed into his own net under pressure from Kanu.

After a first half in which Portsmouth created several chances, the Nigerian forward got his seventh Premiership goal of the season in the 52nd minute. Sol Campbell cushioned a clearance back into the box for Kanu, the Premiership’s top goalscorer, to nod in his side’s second.

Mendes cracker

The points were sealed on the 66th minute with a Pedro Mendes special from long range. A corner was headed clear to the edge of the box, and the onrushing Mendes caught the ball sweetly with his right foot to send it in off the inside of Hahnemann’s left post.

Mendes, nicknamed ‘Rocket Man’ by the home fans because of his shooting ability, then brought an excellent save out of the American goalkeeper with another superb shot with the outside of his right boot.

Although the result was never really in doubt, Reading had a major claim for a penalty turned down after Mendes appeared to intentionally use his arm to stop the ball on the goal line.

A Reading corner was met by Gunnarsson, and the defender’s header had beaten Pompey goalkeeper David James, only for Mendes to palm the ball away. Luckily for the Portuguese, who would surely have received a red card, referee Phil Down waved play on.

Striker Kevin Doyle registered a consolation for the visitors when a he turned the ball home after a goalmouth scramble in the 86th minute, but it took nothing away from a thoroughly impressive performance from Portsmouth.

When asked about the handball incident after the match, Mendes told the BBC: “It was a stupid thing, with it at 3-0 for us. I thought I could clear the ball with my shoulder, but my arm just went out.”

“When I went into the dressing room, I started thinking ‘it was a stupid thing to do’. I just really regret that. But they scored from the following corner so it’s fair for them.”

Portsmouth:
James, Johnson, Primus (Pamarot 46), Campbell, Stefanovic, O'Neil, Pedro Mendes, Davis, Taylor, Mwaruwari (LuaLua 72), Kanu (Cole 80)

Reading:
Hahnemann, Gunnarsson, Sonko, Ingimarsson, Shorey, Ki-Hyeon (Oster 73), Harper, Sidwell, Convey (Lita 73), Doyle, Long (Little 55)

Goals:
[1-0] Gunnarsson, 10 (o.g.)
[2-0] Kanu, 52
[3-0] Mendes, 66
[3-1] Doyle, 84