Pompey so close

John Barnes conjured up a dramatic FA Cup reprieve for ten-man Liverpool with only three minutes of extra time left of an epic semi-final against Portsmouth at Highbury.

Just seven minutes earlier, Darren Anderton had coolly exploited the stretchering away of Steve McManaman to put the second division side within sight of their first final in 53 years.

But as the Pompey Chimes rang around the ground, Andy Awford committed an unnecessary foul on Steve Nicol just outside the area.

After Cornish referee Martin Bodenham had put away his yellow card, England winger Barnes found the touch desperately needed to keep their injury-haunted season alive.

He curled the free-kick against the inside of the near post and had already turned away in celebration as Ronnie Whelan applied the killer touch as the ball ran loose along the line.

It takes the teams on to Villa Park for a replay on Monday, with Jim Smith's South Coast side fearing they have already missed their chance.

They should have finished off Liverpool, despite having to revamp their game after only 10 minutes when former England winger Mark Chamberlain, recalled for the first time since mid-January, limped away to be replaced by Warren Aspinall.

Portsmouth spread five across midfield but Liverpool, at full strength with the return of Barnes, Nicol, Mark Wright and Ray Houghton, rampaged through the first 20 minutes.

McManaman was their inspiration, with John Beresford collecting an early caution and perhaps lucky to still be on the field when he committed the extra-time foul that finally despatched the exciting 20-year-old to the dressing room early.

But Ian Rush, Houghton and Barnes could not hit the target with Liverpool's early chances, and the best fell to Portsmouth in the 11th minute.

Colin Clarke knocked Warren Neill's free-kick into the path of Alan McLoughlin but the hero of the quarter-final win against Nottingham Forest hooked his shot wide.

With Anderton struggling to make the sort of impact McManaman was having for Liverpool, McLoughlin became the pivotal figure for Portsmouth and was denied by a sensational 40th minute save by Bruce Grobbelaar.

Again Neill was the provider and when the ball was scrambled wide to the Republic Of Ireland international, he caught Grobbelaar going the wrong way with a fierce shot that was deflected by a flailing arm. From the corner McLoughlin's back-heel was cleared off the line by Houghton.

In the Portsmouth goal Alan Knight waited until the 45th minute for his first real save, turning aside a close range effort by Whelan.

Aspinall wasted another excellent chance in the 57th minute but Liverpool never lost their composure and their relentless possession football began to drive Portsmouth deeper into their own half. The excellent Awford blocked out Rush, Michael Thomas blazed wide and Knight saved from Barnes and McManaman.

Even after extra-time arived they continued to grind at Portsmouth with Rush heading over and then volleying against the bar.

The eccentric Grobbelaar presented Portsmouth with another chance to sew it up after 101 minutes when he punched a cross from Chris Burns on the head of Clarke.

But the Northern Ireland striker returned the ball with less power than he would have liked and Nicol cleared off the line.

Then, with McManaman off, the moment Pompey's 18,000 fans had dreamed about came when Aspinall intercepted, gave the ball to Neill and his long pass sent Anderton striding clear to draw and beat Grobbelaar with a confidence that belied his years.

It became a test of nerve but when captain Martin Kuhl was booked in a flare-up with Wright the signs were already there that excitement had taken over for Portsmouth. And that was, perhaps, all that let Liverpool back in.

Portsmouth manager Jim Smith described as a "mad moment" the lapse which gave Barnes the platform to rescue Liverpool's season. "So near and possibly so far," said Smith. "But thinking back to what we feared before the game, I'm not as disappointed as maybe I should be. You never think you are there - you know what a crazy game this is. We had done magnificently defensively but we had just one mad moment. The one thing you don't do against Liverpool is give John Barnes a free-kick in that position."

Midfielder Chris Burns, a brick-layer in non-league football just a year ago said: "I felt like crying at the end. We were so close. I should have come back and cleared that ball off the line."

Whelan was delighted for himself, saying: "My last goal was a diving header against Wimbledon in September 1990. At this stage of my career I remember them all. It was just a bit of luck that I was there and I only just had the energy to reach it. But when you are down to 10 men and you need to get there to keep your season alive, then you make sure you get there."

But Whelan was upset by the loss of Steve McManaman, the exciting 20-year-old who faces an operation after damaging his cartilage. He is the latest casualty at the club whose story this season has been more like Emergency Ward 10 than anything else.

"It just sums up our season," said Whelan. "It's unfortunate for the lad because he has done superbly this season."

Portsmouth scorer Anderton said: "Warren Neill played the ball over the top and as I took it down I saw that Bruce Grobbelaar was slightly back- pedalling. I struck it well and caught him wrong-footed. I got one chance and I took it and I'm happy with that."

Liverpool manager Graeme Souness knew how close he had been to ending his first full-season empty-handed and admitted: "I'm delighted to still be in the FA Cup. I thought we were better than them but maybe we were guilty of thinking it was going to be too easy. And they did defend very well."

Barnes aggravated his hamstring injury and will miss league games against Wimbledon and Aston Villa but is expected to be fit for the replay.

David Burrows, who was substituted with a hamstring strain, is another familiar problem for the Liverpool boss. +

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