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Piquionne double gives Portsmouth FA Cup tonic

Portsmouth made light of their financial woes to reach the FA Cup semi-finals with a 2-0 win over Birmingham City, Frederic Piquionne scoring twice to give their long-suffering fans something to cheer.

London: Portsmouth made light of their financial woes to reach the FA Cup semi-finals with a 2-0 win over Birmingham City, Frederic Piquionne scoring twice to give their long-suffering fans something to cheer.
In the day`s other sixth round tie Fulham, bidding to reach the FA Cup final for the first time since 1975, played out a 0-0 draw with London rivals Tottenham Hotspur at Craven Cottage. Portsmouth, bottom of the Premier League and facing almost certain relegation after going into administration, moved ahead in the second half when Piquionne took advantage of a collision between goalkeeper and defender to scramble the ball in.Piquionne, the on-loan French striker who had scored in their last two league games, got the second when he ran on to a Jamie O`Hara pass, mesmerised defender Roger Johnson with two turns and blasted confidently beyond goalkeeper Joe Hart."There`s no team that deserves to be at Wembley more," Portsmouth manager Avram Grant told reporters. "I`m so proud. People have no idea what it`s like to work day by day with these difficulties." Bureau Report