Portsmouth F.C. 7–4 Reading F.C.

The Premier League match between Portsmouth and Reading set a record as the highest scoring match in Premier League history.^[1][2] The match was played at Fratton Park in Portsmouth on 29 September 2007. Eleven goals were scored in the match, leaving a final scoreline of 7–4 in Portsmouth's favour. A staggering six goals hit the back of the net during the last twenty minutes alone (though two were scored in injury time).

Match

Summary

Two Benjani goals had the home side, Portsmouth, leading 2–0 before Stephen Hunt struck on the stroke of half-time and David James then gifted Dave Kitson an equaliser. Hermann Hreidarsson restored the lead before James atoned for his error by keeping out a Nicky Shorey penalty. Benjani restored the two-goal lead and Niko Kranjcar, Sean Davis (later credited to Ivar Ingimarsson via a huge deflection) and Sulley Muntari sealed victory, with Shane Long responding between that and a deflected Nicky Shorey strike was the final goal (this was also later credited as an own goal by Portsmouth defender Sol Campbell). With nine different scorers, the match also holds the record for the most goal scorers in a Premier League match, jointly held with Arsenal's 5–4 win at Tottenham in 2004–05.^[3]

Details

Portsmouth v Reading

29 September 2007 15:00 BST

Portsmouth	7 – 4	Reading
Benjani  7', 37', 70' Hreiðarsson  55' Kranjčar  75' Ingimarsson  81' (o.g.) Muntari  90+2' (pen.)	Report	Hunt  45' Kitson  48' Long  79' Campbell  90+4' (o.g.)

Fratton Park, Portsmouth Attendance: 20,102 Referee: Mark Halsey (Lancashire)

Portsmouth

Reading

PORTSMOUTH: GK 1 David James RB 5 Glen Johnson CB 23 Sol Campbell CB 15 Sylvain Distin LB 7 Hermann Hreiðarsson RCM 8 Papa Bouba Diop CM 28 Sean Davis LCM 11 Sulley Muntari RW 17 John Utaka CF 25 Benjani Mwaruwari  80' LW 19 Niko Kranjčar Substitutes: GK 13 Jamie Ashdown DF 16 Noé Pamarot MF 14 Matthew Taylor MF 30 Pedro Mendes FW 10 David Nugent  80' Manager: Harry Redknapp

READING: GK 1 Marcus Hahnemann RB 2 Graeme Murty  77' CB 29 Michael Duberry CB 28 Ívar Ingimarsson LB 3 Nicky Shorey RM 19 Liam Rosenior CM 6 Brynjar Gunnarsson  77' CM 15 James Harper LM 10 Stephen Hunt CF 9 Kevin Doyle CF 12 Dave Kitson Substitutes: GK 32 Adam Federici DF 22 André Bikey MF 20 Emerse Faé  77' FW 24 Shane Long  77' FW 8 Leroy Lita Manager: Steve Coppell

Post-match reaction

"The first half was probably our best 45 minutes this season, but to come in having conceded in the last minute of the half allowed them back in... people say we only play one up front but today proved that it's really three and no-one deserves a hat-trick more than Benji." Portsmouth coach Joe Jordan^[1]

"It's difficult to analyse a match like that and if you try you will be there a very long time ...we scored four goals away from home and had a chance for another with a penalty. We played a full part in the game - I don't think many teams will come here this season and score four." Reading manager Steve Coppell^[1]

References