The game, played in front of a practically empty stadium on a hot and humid evening, saw the European Champions get a penalty kick as early as the 5th minute after Frazier Campbell was adjudged to have been brought down in the penalty box by Pompey defender Glen Johnson.
Carlos Tevez coolly dispatched the spot-kick, but the referee ordered that the penalty be re-taken after Chris Eagles had encroached into the box. That was to prove costly as Tevez crashed hit second effort off the crossbar.
United had the better chances in the half, with Campbell and Eagles guilty of scuffing some clear-cut opportunities..
Portsmouth were undoubtedly lacking that bite upfront, despite seeing new signing Peter Crouch partnering Jermaine Defoe upfront.
The first half ended in a barren stalemate as both teams, exhausted from the heat headed into the tunnel.
The second half began like the first, with United dominating the attack play and Portsmouth holding out. But Redknapp’s men could not stem the tide forever as a defensive error afforded Chris Eagles an opportunity to blast home the first goal on the 50th minute to give the double-champions a 1-0 lead.
Tevez added a second for United with a lovely volley that beat Portsmouth goalkeeper David James at his left side for a well deserved 2-0 lead to the Old Trafford warriors.
Jermaine Defoe pulled one back for Portsmouth with 2 minutes left in normal play, but it was not enough as United ran out victorious.
Manchester United have thus ended their tour of Africa on a high note, and are headed back to Old Trafford awaiting Espanyol, while Pompey head to Cape Town in South Africa.
Awenlimobor Sylvester
Carlos Tevez coolly dispatched the spot-kick, but the referee ordered that the penalty be re-taken after Chris Eagles had encroached into the box. That was to prove costly as Tevez crashed hit second effort off the crossbar.
United had the better chances in the half, with Campbell and Eagles guilty of scuffing some clear-cut opportunities..
Portsmouth were undoubtedly lacking that bite upfront, despite seeing new signing Peter Crouch partnering Jermaine Defoe upfront.
The first half ended in a barren stalemate as both teams, exhausted from the heat headed into the tunnel.
The second half began like the first, with United dominating the attack play and Portsmouth holding out. But Redknapp’s men could not stem the tide forever as a defensive error afforded Chris Eagles an opportunity to blast home the first goal on the 50th minute to give the double-champions a 1-0 lead.
Tevez added a second for United with a lovely volley that beat Portsmouth goalkeeper David James at his left side for a well deserved 2-0 lead to the Old Trafford warriors.
Jermaine Defoe pulled one back for Portsmouth with 2 minutes left in normal play, but it was not enough as United ran out victorious.
Manchester United have thus ended their tour of Africa on a high note, and are headed back to Old Trafford awaiting Espanyol, while Pompey head to Cape Town in South Africa.
Awenlimobor Sylvester