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| April 14, 2006 | Friday | Rabi-ul-Awwal 15, 1427 |
Arsenal drop two points against Portsmouth
PORTSMOUTH (England): April 13: Arsene Wenger was left cursing Emmanuel Adebayors profligacy as Arsenal wasted the chance to leapfrog arch-rivals Tottenham in the battle for the Premierships fourth Champions League place.
Adebayor wasted two golden chances to put the game beyond Portsmouths reach before Lomana LuaLua scrubbed out Thierry Henrys 28th goal of the season to earn the relegation-haunted hosts a crucial point.
Fit-again Sol Campbell made his first appearance since his controversial disappearance at half-time during Arsenals 3-2 defeat at home to West Ham on Feb 1.Manager Wenger also handed Cameroonian midfielder Alexandre Song, on loan from Bastia, his full debut while Swiss teenager Johan Djourou was another surprise starter.
The Londoners finally made the pressure tell in the 37th minute when Henry opened the scoring with a stunning solo goal. The Frenchman robbed Sean Davis mid-way inside the Pompey half before playing a neat one-two with Adebayor and beating Kiely with a perfectly-weighted side-footed strike from the edge of the box, which cannoed in off the inside of the left hand post.
Adebayor should have doubled Arsenals lead with four minutes of the half remaining when Henry and Reyes combined to get in behind the Pompey defence before Henry rolled the ball across the six yard box, only for his striker partner to scuff hopelessly wide with Kielys goal at his mercy.
Benjani temporarily had Wenger sweating seconds later when, on a rare foray forward by Pompey, he shot into the side netting from DAlessandros in-swinging right-wing cross.
The returning Campbell suffered a bloody start to the second half when Benjani clumsily caught him in the face with his trailing arm after the pair were grappling to win a header.
Campbell was left on his knees with blood trailing from a gaping wound above his right eye and needed lengthy treatment on and off the pitch before returning after a five-minute delay.
Adebayor wasted another guilt-edged opportunity in the 58th minute when he put a free header wide of Kielys far post from Reyess right-wing corner.
LuaLua made Adebayor pay for his wastefulness when he drew Pompey level in the 67th minute with a thunderous close-range header from DAlessandros teasing free-kick.
The Democratic of Congo striker was immediately substituted to be replaced by former Arsenal junior Richard Hughes after landing awkwardly on his ankle while performing his extravagant back-flip goal celebration.
Freddie Ljungberg almost snatched a dramatic late winner, two minutes from time when he cut in from the left before unleashing a fierce right-footed shot which Kiely did well to beat away with the legs as Pompey clung on for the draw.—Agencies
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