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Piquionne double sends Pompey into FA Cup semis

Piquionne’s second half goals were enough to condemn Birmingham City to a 2-0 defeat at Fratton Park here on Saturday but 2008 FA Cup winners Portsmouth’s real triumph will come on March 15 in the High Court when they face the prospect of liquidation.

If British tax authorities succeed in getting bottom of the Premier League Portsmouth wound-up in the courts over their claim for 12.1 million pounds (18.3 million dollars), their potential semi-final opponents will have a bye into the final.

But such considerations were a million miles from the thoughts of a typically passionate Portsmouth crowd who roared their team into the last four.

Winning the quarter-final will earn Portsmouth 360,000 pounds (545,270 dollars) with the prospect of earning an estimated 600,000 pounds (908,784 dollars) in total from the semi-final, if they get that far.

But even winning the FA Cup would only bring in 1.8 million pounds (2.7 million dollars) in prize money which pales against acknowledged debts of 76 million pounds (115 million dollars).

A pedestrian first half between the two top-flight clubs was enlivened only by a sharp save by Portsmouth’s David James from Cameron Jerome after 16 minutes, the England goalkeeper belying his 39 years with his agility.

There was nothing between the sides until the 67^th minute.

Birmingham goalkeeper Joe Hart and defender Scott Dann failed to deal with a Danny Webber shot and, from a yard out, Piquionne touched the ball over the line.

Birmingham were still reeling three minutes later when Jamie O’Hara, the midfield player on loan from Tottenham, threaded through a pass which Piquionne raced on to, twisting away from Roger Johnson to blast home his fourth goal in three matches.

Birmingham manager Alex McLeish, whose team return to Fratton Park for a league match on Tuesday, sent on veteran striker Kevin Phillips in the 72^nd minute in a desperate attempt to snatch a draw.

City should have got one goal back in the 80^th minute in an incident which proved a turning point in the match.

From a corner, the ball fell to Birmingham left back Liam Ridgewell no more than four yards out and with James on the ground.

Ridgewell’s header was clawed back from the line by James in the opinion of referee Steve Bennett and his assistant but video replays clearly indicated the ball had crossed the line.

Man-of-the-match Piquionne, who has not always been certain of a place in Avram Grant’s team, might have scored again in stoppage-time only to be denied a hat-trick by a desperate defensive tackle.

At the final whistle Israeli manager Grant raised his arms in triumph and his team were given a standing ovation by delighted fans who were able to forget the financial troubles for a few hours.

Portsmouth must now wait anxiously to find out not only who they will play at Wembley but whether they will be allowed to fulfil the fixture.

Administrator Andrew Andronikou is confident the Premier League will let them finish their programme, which would include the FA Cup semi-final and maybe even the final in May.

Some Pompey fans were in tears as the players did a lap of honour, hailing former Chelsea manager Grant as the club’s saviour and a man they and their team could rally behind for what remains of an undeniably troubled season.