Filipo Inzaghi, Right Place, Right Time For Milan

Thursday night's UEFA Cup fixtures provided great entertainment for the neutral, but for Pompy fans, a night of heartbreak as they nearly defeated European Giants AC Milan.

The first half produced some very clear cut chances for the Rossoneri but failed to score, with Filipo Inzaghi hitting the woodwork twice, once with a sublime lob from the edge of the box, only to see it hit the top of the bar.

Portsmouth, however, looked a major threat with the switching of play and the lightning pace and skill of Nadir Belhadj and Armand Traore. Between them, they made the Milan right side look very ordinary.

However, with the likes of Ronaldinho, Clarence Seedorf, and Alexandre Pato on the bench, Pompy never looked home and dry, until they could break the deadlock.

The second half brought an inspired display from the Portsmouth, Tony Adams' inspirational words seemed to bring out a rejuvenated Pompy.

Their reward came after 62 minutes when Younes Kaboul headed in a brilliantly accurate Glen Johnson cross. Soon after Johnson again was provider for Kanu to slot home for a deserving 2-0 lead.

However, football is a cruel game! You don't always get what you deserve, as Pompy found out the hard way. An absolutely fantastic free-kick from Ronaldinho produced a lifeline for the below-par Milan.

Two minutes into injury, a hoof forward was brilliantly gathered by Filipo Inzaghi to toe-poke past David James as he has done for many many years.

Portsmouth fans had every right to be the proudest fans in the world for the majority of the game for the way their lads played. But, football does this to the underdogs a lot of times.

I believe Portsmouth had every right to hold their heads high, and also showed the depth of the strongest league in the world, a great advert for English football.