Pompey Win Edmonton Cup After Penalties

By Andreas Morse
FC Edmonton Staff Writer

All photos in this article by
Ian Jackson/Epic Photography Inc.

If FC Edmonton has proven anything from the two international matches against Colo- Colo and Portsmouth FC, it’s that Alberta players can compete against the best with the right coaching.

The second ever Edmonton Cup went to shoot outs on Wednesday night at Commonwealth Stadium in front of nearly 9,000 fans, with Pompey coming out on top in the end 2-1.

The match was turned on its head early on when FC Edmonton’s midfielder Chris Lemire drew first blood in the 6th minute when he took what looked like a harmless ball into the box and roofed it into the top corner.

At the same time, Portsmouth lost their starting goalie to a leg injury when his own defender slid into him trying to stop Lemire’s shot.

1 - 0 for FC Edmonton.

FC Edmonton Striker Michael Cox was the first to go into the referee’s book when he received a yellow card for a foul. Portsmouth’s captain Marc Wilson followed that up with a yellow of his own in the 35th minute, which led to a free kick for FC Edmonton midfielder Chris Lemire from 40 yards out. Lemire was feeling the game after his opening goal and went for another but missed just wide.

Portsmouth’s Nadir Ciftci, a promising young player for the Championship squad, put Pompey back in the game in the 38th minute when a cross came in after a short corner and Ciftci was able to tuck the close range shot into the net.

1-1.

FC Edmonton’s back line had a lot to do in the first half but apart from Portsmouth’s late goal, Niko Saler, Paul Hamilton, Paul Matthijs and Andre Duberry got the job done.

With 6 minutes added on at the end of the first half, FC Edmonton took advantage of the extra time and won a free kick from 35 yards out. Lemire once again stood over the ball but this time he laid it off to a teammate in the middle of the field; the shot was deflected over the net.

The resulting corner didn’t amount to anything for Edmonton and both teams walked off the field at half time to a chanting crowd cheering on the home team.

Portsmouth made one change at the half bringing in Perry Ryan for Stephen Jordan. Lemire started the second half where he left off in the first by intercepting a Portsmouth pass in the 48th minute. The midfielder held on to the ball a touch too long and only managed a soft shot that was easily saved by replacement keeper Liam O’Brien.

Rein Baart was called into action in the 49th minute when a cross/shot looked like it may drop into the net and the FC Edmonton keeper was forced to tip it over the bar to safety.

Sam Lam got into the second half action in the 54th minute when he let a blistering shot go from outside the box but it carried just over the bar for a goal kick.

Cox came close to putting Edmonton ahead in the 63rd minute but the Striker headed the Lemire cross over the bar.

FC Edmonton made their first substitution in the 65th minute bringing on Shaun Saiko, who spent some time in the UK with Middlesborough, for Paul Hamilton hoping for a little more offence.

It looked like Portsmouth had scored a go ahead goal in the 67th minute but it was called back because of a foul on Baart.

FC Edmonton made another substitution right after and brought on Milan Timotijevic for Cox.

A bit of pushing and shoving broke out in the 76th minute resulting in a stern warning for Lemire and Portsmouth’s Ciftci but both players avoided getting booked by the referee.

Portsmouth had another glorious chance to take the lead in the 79th minute when a free kick was taken quickly sending David Nugent in but the FC Edmonton defender closed the space quickly and Nugent’s shot hit the side netting. Baart followed it up with a great save minutes later.

FC Edmonton made another substitution in the 80th minute bringing on Ezra Schrijver for Sam Lam.

Baart had to make several saves as the game carried on into the final minutes, keeping his team in a 1-1 draw.

FC Edmonton got one last change in before the final whistle bringing Antonio Rago in for goal scorer Lemire in the 87th minute, a move that would prove to have a huge impact on the game.

FC Edmonton had one last chance before the final whistle but Sander van Gessel’s chance was cleared off the line by the Portsmouth defender, sending the game to shoot outs.

Both teams exchanged goals until the substitute Rago stepped up to the penalty spot and O’Brien managed to save his low shot.

The crucial stop proved to be all that Portsmouth FC needed to steal the Edmonton Cup away from FC Edmonton and the City of Champions.

In the end however, the local squad could once again hold their heads high after another positive performance and the fans recognized their efforts as they walked off the pitch.