Everton 0 : Portsmouth 3
31/08/2008 4:13 AM
failed to connect with the ball and barely a minute later another teasing cross from Baines was missed by Vaughan with the goal at his mercy.
Pompey began to play on the counter-attack and they hit Everton with a devastating move which put them two goals ahead in the 40th minute.
Johnson, lurking on the right flank, cut infield and played a neat one-two with Defoe before stroking a low left-foot shot into the corner of the net.
Everton had an opportunity to cut the deficit two minutes after the restart when Johnson clumsily hauled Vaughan to the ground but James used his 6ft 5in frame to great effect with a fine save to his right to deny Yakubu from the penalty spot.
Portsmouth's third goal duly arrived in the 69th minute, again courtesy of Defoe, who chipped Howard with a brilliant lofted shot which bounced back off the crossbar and over the line.