Pompey out of UEFA Cup - Wolfsburg v Portsmouth

Calamity James does it again.

A sad night in Portsmouth's history, the opportunity to progress to the knockout stages to the UEFA cup was not taken, as Adam's men lost 3-2 to Wolfsburg.

Four goals in 22 minutes opened up an entertaining match at the Volkswagen Arena on Thursday night, with Pompey needing to match or better Braga's result to still have a chance to qualify, the news of Heerenveen going 1-0 up gave Pompey fans the belief to spur on the Blues as they fought back from going 1-0 down in the opening five minutes. Bosnian striker Edin Džeko latched upon a Wolfsburg cross that pinged across the 6-yard box.

It didn't take long for Pompey to equalise as David James through a long ball out to Armand Traore whose cross was fumbled by Wolfsburg keeper Benaglio, before falling to the feet of Jermain Defoe who tapped it in to go level.

Pompey went 2-1 up minutes later as Arnold Mvuemba hit a thundering shot past the Wolfsburg goalkeeper, although it looked like Mveumba's shot may have taken a deflection from defender Andrea Barzagli.

Defoe went close to extending the lead as his shot was driven just wide of the post.

With the pressure on Braga as Pompey were on track to get all three points, Braga scored an equaliser in their game, and as Wolfsburg also scored an equaliser minutes later, things were looking bad for Pompey's chances with poor defending being Portsmouth's main threat and problem.

Wolfsburg's equaliser came as Gentner's cross/shot passed a number of Wolfsburg and Pompey players in the box before somehow finding its way into the net.

Pompey carried on pushing to try and restore the lead and a good bit of play from Glen Johnson, Sean Davis and Jermain Defoe saw the England forward go close again before Benaglio had to pull-off a decent save to deny Defoe.

Slyvain Distin gave away the ball minutes before half time as Misimovic's shot was tipped around the post by Jamo.

Half-time came and news started to travel around the stadium that Braga had gone 2-1 up early on in the second half, so the Blues would need to get another goal if Pompey were to progress.

Nadir Belhadj's worst performance in a Portsmouth shirt resulted in him being replaced by Noe Pamarot as half-time, the Algerian failed to link up well on the left with Traore and consistently gave the ball away and was turned by Wolfsburg's attackers.

Noe Pamarot gave a bit of strength into the defence at half-time, but the width and pace down the left seemed to disappear after half-time.

Pompey went close to getting that much-needed goal on 52 minutes as Adams' side were awarded a free-kick 20-yards out, as Niko Kranjcar stepped up for the set piece as his thunderous shot rattled the crossbar.

It looked as if there was definitely going to be another goal in the game, and sadly it came from a David James mistake, as Wolfsburg capitalised on the opportunity.

Distin's pass-back to David James left Jamo in a pickle and unable to clear the ball, striker Misimovic dispossessed James before taking it round him and putting it into an empty net.

Things went from bad to worse as Braga went 3-1 up and Sol Campbell gave away a penalty.

But to try and make up for his blunder David James was on form to deny Misimovic a second goal by saving the penalty.

Peter Crouch and Kanu were both bought on to try and salvage a goal for Pompey but neither could do any justice for the Blues, but it seemed that they had no steam left, and with Armand Traore coming off in the last five minutes injured, and all the Pompey substitutes being used, Adams' resorted to having to play with 10 men, and despite his final shout from the touchline to encourage the side to push on, no chances came Pompey's way as we exited the UEFA Cup.

Pompey Pages Man of the Match was Sean Davis who controlled things in midfield, and unlike a few players, notably Niko Kranjcar and Nadir Belhadj who has very poor performances, Davis was jumping in for every challenge and running everywhere, wearing his heart on the badge.

David James was unlucky and I guess it was only a matter of time until he made another mistake, although he still is by far the best English goalkeeper around at the moment.

The referee made a majority of correct decisions unlike the ref from the Braga game, and the Wolfsburg fans sang at times.

Although a disappoint to the night, as well as the result, was the organisation by the security and staff of Volkswagen Arena as it took many people 20 minutes to get in, therefore missing three goals.

People were made to wait as the security insisted on searching everyone thoroughly and making fans empty their pockets. A bad case of arrangement on behalf of Wolfsburg.

Pompey face Heerenveen a week on Wednesday for their final game in the UEFA Cup this season, although neither side can qualify, so it seems that both sides will just play for dignity.

For the Official Match Highlights click here