Pompey Chimes ring out for Europe

Last night European Football came to the pride of the South Coast for the first time as Portsmouth stepped into the UEFA Cup for the first time with the visit of Vitoria Guimaraes. A near capacity crowd was seen despite the unusual 6PM kick-off time as the club and the city embraced the occasion.

Pompey were unchanged from the team that finished the game with Middlesbrough on Saturday. Newcomer Belhadj got his first start at left-back and had a lot to love up to following an impressive 45 minutes at the weekend. The rest of the side was pretty much as expected as Portsmouth started their UEFA Cup campaign with cautious optimism.

The home side dominated possession and looked at ease in Europe. Despite the club having never played in the competition before, every single player on the pitch for Pompey had played in Europe before for other clubs.

The visitors' goalkeeper Nilson twice kept his team level in the first half with fine saves from Jermain Defoe. The England striker was played in by Crouch and saw his effort acrobatically tipped over. The keeper needed attention to his fingers which looked like they may well of been bent back following the shot.

Portsmouth looked on top and finally made their possession count after 39 minutes when the world-class Diarra beat two men on the left flank before playing a neat one-two with Defoe and firing in on the half-volley. It was no less than the home side deserved and the crowd roared with their approval. The atmosphere was particularly impressive and should Portsmouth advance in this competition then there won't be many team that'll fancy a trip to Fratton Park under the lights.

After the euphoria of the goal the home side gifted the visitors a golden opportunity to level it up. Sol Campbell was adjudged to of brought Felix Roberto down in the box. It looked extremely harsh at the time and the attacker didn't even appeal but the referee blew and spot kick was given. Joao Paulo Fajardo stepped up and fired his effort off the top of the bar to give the home crowd a chance to release a huge sigh of relief.

Those same fans were happy early in the second half when they cheered a soft penalty for the home side. However yet again the net failed to bulge as the impressive Nilson saved low to his left from Defoe's effort and within a minute the away side should've been level. A quick free kick saw Roberto go through only for the front man to drag his shot wide when he only had David James to beat.

Portsmouth doubled their lead soon afterwards when an absolute gem of a cross from the very impressive Belhadj found Defoe at the far post and this time the keeper had no chance. It was another high quality goal for the home side who looked very much at home in European competition.

Vitoria Guimaraes decided that it was time to really go for it and they gave the Pompey defence something to think about in the last thirty minutes. A free kick hit David James and somehow drifted just wide of the far post. However it was Portsmouth who nearly got the third when yet again Nilson made a top class save – this time from Belhadj.

It finished 2-0 to Portsmouth but it could've been more. Still a 2-0 win is a terrific result and with no away goal conceded they'll be confident going into the second leg knowing that if they score in Portugal, then their opposition will have to score four times and that doesn't happen very often against a very stingy back line.