From the Jaws of Defeat: Portsmouth Progress in Portugal

Portsmouth Football Club held on to a 2-2 draw against Vitoria Guimaraes in Portugal tonight, clinging to their UEFA Cup campaign and snatching victory from what was a dire situation. In the end, the English side will continue into the group stages of the competition ,after their 4-2 aggregate win.

At the end of the first 45 minutes of play, Portsmouth had completely blown their 2-0 advantage earned at Fratton Park, and it looked all but over. Poor defending and a massive goalkeeping gaffe from 'keeper David James highlighted what was a half completely dominated by Guimaraes, who had returning striker Douglas in fine form.

Portsmouth's European ambitions began to look more and more like a dream.

The second half was a very different story, however, as whatever Portsmouth manager Harry Redknapp shared with his team at half-time seemed to work. Jermain Defoe looked likely to break the deadlock, as wing-back Glen Johnson marauded down the right side.

While Portsmouth huffed-and-puffed, the deadlock just could not be broken, and full time would give way to extra time. Guimaraes, however, looked to be running out of steam, having already used all of their substitutes.

Portsmouth continued to threaten into extra time, as Peter Crouch was finally able to earn the vital away goal that changed the face of the tie completely. Armand Traore put in a ball to the far post that was met by the massive Crouch, who fully utilized his height in a goal any other player would have struggled to make.

Crouch would then break free in the 111th minute, to put the tie beyond doubt and send the 2,500 travelling Portsmouth fans into raptures.

What can Harry Redknapp and Portsmouth supporters learn from the tie? Jermain Defoe and Peter Crouch are only improving in their work with each other and independently, and Johnson and Armand Traore are proving to be capable of filling the creative role Niko Kranjcar usually fills so well.

Lassana Diarra is the guile that takes the team to the next level. The defense, however, is proving to be a shadow of what it has been in the past two seasons. Noe Pamarot's return was full of kinks early in the game, and Sol Campbell and Sylvain Distin seemed to be lacking in their communication for the first goal.

In addition, David James has made some concerning mistakes in his last few games, and Portsmouth supporters can only hope that he shakes off this slump and doesn't earn back his old "Calamity" moniker. What, exactly, he was doing for Guimaraes second goal from nearly forty yards out, only he knows.

In the end, Rangers midfielder Pedro Mendes must have mixed feelings following the result. On one side, he will be disappointed that his first club and hometown side have fallen not only from the Champions League, but also the UEFA Cup so quickly.

He may, however, be silently pleased that his last club have triumphed in the early days of their first European campaign, while wishing them success into the future.