Kanu leads Portsmouth to FA Cup win

By Mike Collett

LONDON (Reuters) - Portsmouth won the FA Cup for the first time in 69 years on Saturday when striker Nwankwo Kanu's first-half goal secured a 1-0 win to overcome the spirited challenge of Championship side (second division) Cardiff City.

The first final not to feature one of the current 'big four' teams since 1991 was initially open and adventurous, given a magnificent backdrop on an overcast day at Wembley by both sets of noisy fans making the most of a rare moment in the limelight.

The goal came after 37 minutes when midfielder John Utaka whipped in a low cross from the right and Cardiff's on-loan Finland goalkeeper Peter Enckelman could only push it into the path of Nigerian Kanu, who fired it straight back past him to make amends for an earlier miss when he hit a post.

Portsmouth's win secured a place in next season's UEFA Cup.

Cardiff had held their own in a lively first half but the Premier League side took command after the break and were never seriously troubled in the second period with Pompey's central defenders Sol Campbell and Sylvain Distin quick to snuff out any threat from the Welsh team.

BETTER SIDE

Portsmouth took the lead after Cardiff, playing in their first final since their only victory in 1927, had been the better side in the opening spell.

Despite their early running and territorial domination, the best chance before the goal also fell to Kanu.