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A late goal from substitute
Michael Obafemi condemned Pompey to defeat at Plymouth – in a game they
really should have won. The visitors caused their opponents problems throughout, but were unable to make the most of their chances. And they were made to pay in the closing stages, when Obafemi charged through to fire home an Argyle winner. John Mousinho made a solitary change from the side that drew at Hull on Saturday, with Jordan Williams replacing Terry Devlin at right-back. Pompey looked to get at their opponents right from the kick-off – and had the ball in the net inside the opening minute. Freddie Potts cut back for Connor Ogilvie and after his shot was saved by Dan Grimshaw, the loose ball was slotted in by Regan Poole. Unfortunately for the visitors’ stand-in skipper, however, he had strayed into an offside position and the flag was raised. The visitors maintained their fast start, pressing Plymouth high up the pitch and not giving them any time on the ball. Argyle looked most dangerous on the break, although Andre Gray wasted a decent opening, while an acrobatic Kornél Szűcs effort was comfortably dealt with by Nicolas Schmid. It was still the Blues looking more likely to break the deadlock and when Ogilvie met a Josh Murphy delivery, his header was saved by Grimshaw. Kusini Yengi was unhappy after going to ground under Julio Pleguezuelo’s challenge on 36 minutes, although James Bell did not think there was anything untoward. Matt Ritchie then met Murphy’s cross with a firm diving header that Grimshaw did well to keep hold of. And space soon opened up for Potts to race into just before the break, although the midfielder dragged his shot wide. Half Time: Plymouth 0 Pompey 0 Pompey did not hold back following the restart and immediately began to apply pressure on their opponents. When an effort from Murphy was blocked and the ball cleared as far as Potts, his attempt was kept out by Grimshaw. Jordan Williams then bulldozed his way through the Pilgrims defence, allowing Andre Dozzell to hit a shot that dipped narrowly over. And when Yengi used his strength to hold off Pleguezuelo, his low centre was just out of reach for a stretching Murphy. But Plymouth almost took the lead on 57 minutes, as Gray laid the ball off for Jordan Houghton to hit a shot that was superbly turned around the post by Schmid. And an untimely slip from Tom McIntyre then saw Morgan Whittaker race away and slot the ball into the net, with the Home Park eruption quickly quelled by an offside flag. Pompey were forced into a change just past the hour mark, with Williams collecting an injury and replaced by Devlin. They were still the side causing the most problems and a teasing Murphy delivery could not quite be reached by either Yengi or Lang. Mousinho freshened things up with a double switch on 74 minutes, as Yengi and Ritchie made way for Mark O’Mahony and Sammy Silvera. It looked like the clear-cut chances were beginning to dry up as the contest ended its closing stages, however. But it was Plymouth who were celebrating when the hosts got caught out by a long ball over the top and Obafemi muscled through to arrow a shot into the bottom corner. Christian Saydee and Owen Moxon came on for Dozzell and Murphy as the visitors made one last throw of the dice. The Blues were unable to find a leveller, however, as Plymouth saw out the final few minutes to claim all three points. |
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