An estimated one-twelfth of the world's population tuned in to the English FA Cup Final on Saturday, as Portmouth took on Welsh side Cardiff City.
A huge crowd of 89,847 were at Wembley Stadium in London for the game, the largest crowd at an FA Cup Final since 1988, when a whopping 98,203 packed into Wembley Stadium and saw Wimbledon beat Liverpool.
Cardiff, a Welsh team playing in the English league, are the first Welsh side since 1927 (when Cardiff last won the FA Cup) to appear in the English FA Cup Final.
But their hopes of taking the FA Cup out of England for the first time in 81 years were dashed by Portsmouth.
It was the first time that Portsmouth, home of the Royal Navy, have won the FA Cup since 1939. When they won it that year they held the trophy until 1946, for obvious reasons.
This was the first FA Cup Final since 1991 to have NOT featured one of England's Big Four teams.
Prince Harry: It's a dream come true for Redknapp as Pompey win the Cup
2008 FA Cup Final (At Wembley Stadium, north London. Attendance: 89,847)
PORTSMOUTH 1-0 CARDIFF CITY
Kanu 37
By JOE BERNSTEIN
17th May 2008
Daily Mail
Manager Harry Redknapp is the prince of Portsmouth after ending the worst year of his life by guiding the club to an emotional and historic FA Cup triumph yesterday at Wembley.
Kanu scored the only goal of the 127th Cup Final, following an error by Cardiff goalkeeper Peter Enckelman and, after lifting the trophy they had last won in 1939, the South Coast club will be in European competition next season for the first time.
It was a happy climax to a rollercoaster season for Redknapp in which the team's success has been at times overshadowed by controversy and family tragedy off the pitch.
Redknapp said: 'It's fantastic for everybody — my family, the players, it's great. It has been a difficult year off the field, so to win the FA Cup is a dream come true. 'My wife keeps me going, full stop. But everyone goes through tough times in life, it's not just me.'
Poacher: Kanu taps home the winning goal for Portsmouth against Cardiff City
Redknapp is still on bail after being one of seven people arrested in November on suspicion of conspiracy to defraud and false accounting in the City of London's ongoing inquiry into allegations of corruption in football.
And last month, his sister-in-law, Pat Lampard, the twin of his wife Sandra and mother of Chelsea and England star Frank Lampard, died of pneumonia.
Redknapp and his team will parade the Cup through Portsmouth this morning, with most of the 200,000 population expected to line the streets between Fratton Park and the city centre.
The Portsmouth manager hailed matchwinner Kanu, who had already hit a post before scoring in the 37th minute, and his team's ability to defend a lead.
Yesterday's victory meant that on each of the 22 occasions Portsmouth had taken the lead during the season, including their shock 1-0 triumph at Premier League champions Manchester United in the sixth round, they went on to win the game.
In their Pomp: Sol Campbell lifts the FA Cup for Portsmouth as David James raises Distin's arm
Redknapp said: 'When Kanu missed early on you thought maybe it was going to be one of those days. But he came through again, as he did in the semi-final against West Bromwich Albion.
'He's done great for me since I got him on a free from West Brom.
'When we drew Manchester United in the quarter-finals, I certainly didn't expect to be here today.
'Who goes to Old Trafford and wins?
'But today, the same as then, when we go a goal up we're a very difficult team to break down.'
Happy Harry: Redknapp with lifts the FA Cup for Portsmouth
Redknapp found time to commiserate with his Cardiff counterpart Dave Jones and to praise the Championship club's fans for staying to see Portsmouth captain Sol Campbell lift the Cup after helping to create a great atmosphere in the first FA Cup final for 17 years not to feature at least one of the so-called Big Four.
Redknapp said: 'I feel a bit sorry for Dave Jones. I've got a lot of time for him.
'All credit to the Cardiff fans for staying on at the end. That was fantastic. 'But it was that kind of final. The big clubs' fans come here so often, but it's a great day.'
Portsmouth: James, Johnson, Campbell, Distin, Hreidarsson, Utaka (Nugent 69), Pedro Mendes (Diop 78), Diarra, Muntari, Kranjcar, Kanu (Baros 87).
Subs Not Used: Ashdown, Pamarot.
Cardiff: Enckelman, McNaughton, Johnson, Loovens, Capaldi, Ledley, Rae (Sinclair 86), McPhail, Whittingham (Ramsey 61), Parry, Hasselbaink (Thompson 70).
Subs Not Used: Oakes, Purse.
Spray up Pompey: Portsmouth celebrate their FA Cup win
***************************
Portsmouth 1-0 Cardiff: Fans of both clubs head to Wembley for the first final in 17 years that has not featured one of England's top four
The two teams have one previous FA Cup win each, with Pompey beating Wolverhampton Wanderers 4-1 back in 1939
Cardiff's fans have had to wait even longer with their last victory coming against Arsenal in 1927 - the only time a non-English team has won the competition
Those Portsmouth supporters unable to make the trip to London can head instead to Southsea Common where a big screen is in place
With the 1500 BST kick-off looming, the approach to Wembley fills with excited fans looking forward to taking their place in the stadium
Once inside, flags are unfurled and voices are put to use as the pre-match atmosphere starts to build
The sides make their way on to the pitch where they are introduced to guest of honour Sir Bobby Robson moments before the start
The final formality to be performed is the singing of the national anthems by sopranos Katherine Jenkins and Lesley Garrett
The Bluebirds make the brighter start and see Paul Parry go through only for David James to come out swiftly and deny him
A fantastic chance goes the way of Kanu but, after sidestepping goalkeeper Peter Enckelman, his shot hits the outside of the post
City win a free-kick on the half hour but see defender Roger Johnson head over as the opening goal remains elusive
It eventually arrives in the 37th minute when John Utaka's cross is pushed by Enckelman into the path of Kanu who bundles home
Having scored the winner in the semi-final against West Brom, the goal is the Nigerian's second of Pompey's cup run
Cardiff appear to equalise just before half-time when Glenn Loovens (right) lobs home but he is penalised for a handball in the build-up
Veteran Dutch striker Jimmy-Floyd Hasselbaink tries to find a way through for the Welsh outfit after the interval but has little joy
Good opportunities are few and far between for the Championship side leaving boss Dave Jones to consider his options
With just over an hour played he opts to replace Peter Whittingham with 17-year-old wonder kid Aaron Ramsey
The youngster causes problems and almost equalises in the 89th minute but sees his two efforts kept out by Pompey's defence
Harry Redknapp's side resist further pressure during four minutes of added time to hold on for a narrowly deserved victory
The win marks Portsmouth's first major trophy since winning the league in 1949-50 and sees them qualify for next season's Uefa Cup
dailymail.co.uk
news.bbc.co.uk/sport
A huge crowd of 89,847 were at Wembley Stadium in London for the game, the largest crowd at an FA Cup Final since 1988, when a whopping 98,203 packed into Wembley Stadium and saw Wimbledon beat Liverpool.
Cardiff, a Welsh team playing in the English league, are the first Welsh side since 1927 (when Cardiff last won the FA Cup) to appear in the English FA Cup Final.
But their hopes of taking the FA Cup out of England for the first time in 81 years were dashed by Portsmouth.
It was the first time that Portsmouth, home of the Royal Navy, have won the FA Cup since 1939. When they won it that year they held the trophy until 1946, for obvious reasons.
This was the first FA Cup Final since 1991 to have NOT featured one of England's Big Four teams.
Prince Harry: It's a dream come true for Redknapp as Pompey win the Cup
2008 FA Cup Final (At Wembley Stadium, north London. Attendance: 89,847)
PORTSMOUTH 1-0 CARDIFF CITY
Kanu 37
By JOE BERNSTEIN
17th May 2008
Daily Mail
Manager Harry Redknapp is the prince of Portsmouth after ending the worst year of his life by guiding the club to an emotional and historic FA Cup triumph yesterday at Wembley.
Kanu scored the only goal of the 127th Cup Final, following an error by Cardiff goalkeeper Peter Enckelman and, after lifting the trophy they had last won in 1939, the South Coast club will be in European competition next season for the first time.
It was a happy climax to a rollercoaster season for Redknapp in which the team's success has been at times overshadowed by controversy and family tragedy off the pitch.
Redknapp said: 'It's fantastic for everybody — my family, the players, it's great. It has been a difficult year off the field, so to win the FA Cup is a dream come true. 'My wife keeps me going, full stop. But everyone goes through tough times in life, it's not just me.'
Poacher: Kanu taps home the winning goal for Portsmouth against Cardiff City
Redknapp is still on bail after being one of seven people arrested in November on suspicion of conspiracy to defraud and false accounting in the City of London's ongoing inquiry into allegations of corruption in football.
And last month, his sister-in-law, Pat Lampard, the twin of his wife Sandra and mother of Chelsea and England star Frank Lampard, died of pneumonia.
Redknapp and his team will parade the Cup through Portsmouth this morning, with most of the 200,000 population expected to line the streets between Fratton Park and the city centre.
The Portsmouth manager hailed matchwinner Kanu, who had already hit a post before scoring in the 37th minute, and his team's ability to defend a lead.
Yesterday's victory meant that on each of the 22 occasions Portsmouth had taken the lead during the season, including their shock 1-0 triumph at Premier League champions Manchester United in the sixth round, they went on to win the game.
In their Pomp: Sol Campbell lifts the FA Cup for Portsmouth as David James raises Distin's arm
Redknapp said: 'When Kanu missed early on you thought maybe it was going to be one of those days. But he came through again, as he did in the semi-final against West Bromwich Albion.
'He's done great for me since I got him on a free from West Brom.
'When we drew Manchester United in the quarter-finals, I certainly didn't expect to be here today.
'Who goes to Old Trafford and wins?
'But today, the same as then, when we go a goal up we're a very difficult team to break down.'
Happy Harry: Redknapp with lifts the FA Cup for Portsmouth
Redknapp found time to commiserate with his Cardiff counterpart Dave Jones and to praise the Championship club's fans for staying to see Portsmouth captain Sol Campbell lift the Cup after helping to create a great atmosphere in the first FA Cup final for 17 years not to feature at least one of the so-called Big Four.
Redknapp said: 'I feel a bit sorry for Dave Jones. I've got a lot of time for him.
'All credit to the Cardiff fans for staying on at the end. That was fantastic. 'But it was that kind of final. The big clubs' fans come here so often, but it's a great day.'
Portsmouth: James, Johnson, Campbell, Distin, Hreidarsson, Utaka (Nugent 69), Pedro Mendes (Diop 78), Diarra, Muntari, Kranjcar, Kanu (Baros 87).
Subs Not Used: Ashdown, Pamarot.
Cardiff: Enckelman, McNaughton, Johnson, Loovens, Capaldi, Ledley, Rae (Sinclair 86), McPhail, Whittingham (Ramsey 61), Parry, Hasselbaink (Thompson 70).
Subs Not Used: Oakes, Purse.
Spray up Pompey: Portsmouth celebrate their FA Cup win
***************************
Portsmouth 1-0 Cardiff: Fans of both clubs head to Wembley for the first final in 17 years that has not featured one of England's top four
The two teams have one previous FA Cup win each, with Pompey beating Wolverhampton Wanderers 4-1 back in 1939
Cardiff's fans have had to wait even longer with their last victory coming against Arsenal in 1927 - the only time a non-English team has won the competition
Those Portsmouth supporters unable to make the trip to London can head instead to Southsea Common where a big screen is in place
With the 1500 BST kick-off looming, the approach to Wembley fills with excited fans looking forward to taking their place in the stadium
Once inside, flags are unfurled and voices are put to use as the pre-match atmosphere starts to build
The sides make their way on to the pitch where they are introduced to guest of honour Sir Bobby Robson moments before the start
The final formality to be performed is the singing of the national anthems by sopranos Katherine Jenkins and Lesley Garrett
The Bluebirds make the brighter start and see Paul Parry go through only for David James to come out swiftly and deny him
A fantastic chance goes the way of Kanu but, after sidestepping goalkeeper Peter Enckelman, his shot hits the outside of the post
City win a free-kick on the half hour but see defender Roger Johnson head over as the opening goal remains elusive
It eventually arrives in the 37th minute when John Utaka's cross is pushed by Enckelman into the path of Kanu who bundles home
Having scored the winner in the semi-final against West Brom, the goal is the Nigerian's second of Pompey's cup run
Cardiff appear to equalise just before half-time when Glenn Loovens (right) lobs home but he is penalised for a handball in the build-up
Veteran Dutch striker Jimmy-Floyd Hasselbaink tries to find a way through for the Welsh outfit after the interval but has little joy
Good opportunities are few and far between for the Championship side leaving boss Dave Jones to consider his options
With just over an hour played he opts to replace Peter Whittingham with 17-year-old wonder kid Aaron Ramsey
The youngster causes problems and almost equalises in the 89th minute but sees his two efforts kept out by Pompey's defence
Harry Redknapp's side resist further pressure during four minutes of added time to hold on for a narrowly deserved victory
The win marks Portsmouth's first major trophy since winning the league in 1949-50 and sees them qualify for next season's Uefa Cup
dailymail.co.uk
news.bbc.co.uk/sport
