Bournemouth just edge out Pompey 1-2

Match Report
Portsmouth 1 v 2 AFCB

22 July 2017 Pre-season friendly

Attendance 7182 (988 AFCB fans)

The now seemingly annual pre-season fixture with Pompey was a lively encounter and a few AFCB players made the most of the outing. Lys Mousset made an excellent start to his claim for more involvement in AFCB's team with an early goal and he linked up well with Benik Afobe, which will give Eddie Howe something to ponder. Portsmouth found it hard to do much more than long shots, but the first half was tight with the Cherries just the one goal up. Chapman put the teams level just after half time, with a shot from just inside the box, before an alert Afobe restored Bournemouth lead a couple of minutes later to keep AFCB's pre-season on track. 

Fratton Park.

Bournemouth travelled to Portsmouth looking to keep their winning pre-season on track and they gave Asmir Bogovic his first start since he move from Chelsea earlier this summer. Simon Francis was used as a right back and Afobe and Mousset got the starts up front, while Max Gradel who is the rumour of much transfer talk began on the left wing. 
The Cherries put out a fairly strong side at Portsmouth but fans had to wait to see if Defoe would come on in the second half.

Match description

The weather was wet and overcast, quite a contrast to the Marbella training camp for AFCB. It did not take AFCB long to get accustomed to their surroundings though when Mousett crashed in the first goal on eight minutes, after Afobe pulled the ball back from the byline to him.

Portsmouth were getting long range shots off but there was nothing to bother Begovic by the 18 minute mark and Afobe dragged a shot wide that could have doubled the lead.

Pitman then had a shot from 20 yards that Begovic held on to.

Mousset then drove a shot from just inside the box that had McGee at full stretch, as he turned the shot wide of his post.

Kyle Bennett then put in a looping effort, but it sailed over AFCB's bar. Mousett comes close again with excellent work with Afobe, before McGee saves and a Pompey defender clears off the line!

Gradel is also getting into advanced areas, and wins a corner.

Carl Baker tries a 20-yard drive that just goes wide of Begovic's left post. Gradel is next to shoot, but its saved by McGee low down.

As half time approaches Naismith has a long shot that goes over.

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Second half

Worthington replaces Steve Cook and Francis moves to centre-half and Daniels replaces Tyrone Mings at left back.

Portsmouth almost got off to the dream start with Pitman put through against Begovic, but the former Stoke and Chelsea keeper got his angles right and thwarted Pitman with a great save.

Portsmouth would not be denied though and Chapman put Pompey level on 52 minutes with a clean finish just inside the box. Mousset hits a long shot that the keeper pushes over, but Afobe knock in AFCB's second from six yards with a back heel!

Francis and Fraser were involved in the build up and Fraser was unlucky not to score himself but Afobe finished the job on 54 minutes. Eight subs for the Cherries (read then in the texts below). Off go Begovic, Surman, Arter, Afobe, Gradel, Mousset and Cargill.

Portsmouth are denied a penalty when the ball hits Francis' arm in the box. Bennett is the best player at the moment. Naismith comes off for Lalkovic.

Aké makes a good defensive header before Chaplin gets there. Ibe is proving a good outlet for the Cherries. Pompey subs come on with 13 minutes to go.

Josh King is okay after a head clash. Chaplin goes close again with a shot that flies off the base of the post!

Burgess then heads over from a Pompey corner. Gosling then has a shot that is deflected.

Full time.

Summary

Eddie Howe's biggest scare in this match was probably when King clashed heads with Davies and will be relieved there was no lasting injury. Bournemouth had to fight hard at times during this match to keep Pompey at distance, but there were some very good moments for Lys Mousset and Benik Afobe. Asmir Begovic is also going to be a contender for the keeper's position.

AFCB
Begovic, Francis, S Cook, Cargill, Mings, Surman, Arter, Fraser, Gradel, Mousset, Afobe

AFCB subs:
Federici, Worthington, Simpson, Ake, Daniels, L Cook, Gosling, Ibe, Pugh, Whitfield, Mahoney, Defoe, King

Portsmouth
McGee; Evans, Davies, Burgess; Holmes-Dennis; Naismith, Baker, Rose, Bennett; Pitman (c), Chaplin

Portsmouth Subs
subs: Bass, Talbot, Whatmough, Haunstrup, May, Close, Lalkovic, Lowe, Main, Kabamba

Official AFCB and Pompey Texts

Bournemouth get the game started
2: From a Bournemouth corner, Mings' deflected shot is saved by McGee
3: Mousset meets Fraser's cross with a header that is cleared by a well-placed Pitman
8: Chaplin meets Bennett's cross, but it's a comfortable save for Begovic
GOAL! Mousset crashes home the opener after good work from Afobe in the right channel! 0-1.
Afobe gets down the right and cuts the ball back for Mousset to fire home
16: Bennett with a left-footed drive from outside the box that flies narrowly over
20: Afobe drags a shot narrowly wide of the post 

22: Pompey growing into this game and Pitman's shot is inadvertently blocked by Chaplin
21: Bennett hooks the ball into the centre, but it's cleared to safety by Steve Cook
26: Naismith's cross from the left is headed narrowly over by Pitman
27: Few chances of late, though Afobe and Mousset have dragged efforts wide from distance.

31: Nice footwork from Kyle Bennett down the right. He works space before looping an effort over Begovic's goal.

32: McGee gets a hand to Afobe's angled drive, but the ball bobbles towards the net and 32: Baker has to hack clear
34: Wonderful work from Mousset. He wins the ball and slips a neat pass through for Afobe, who sees a low shot well saved!
38: Baker with a 30-yard drive that flashes just past the post 

42: Gradel's low drive is well gathered by McGee
43: Naismith with an ambitious long-range shot that flies over the bar
44: Patient play on the edge of the area sees Fraser and Arter combine, before Gradel's low shot is well held by McGee.
Half Time: Pompey 0-1 afcb. Mousset's early strike the difference at Fratton Park so far.

Start of the second half has been delayed here at Fratton Park, as a supporter receives medical treatment in the stands. A Portsmouth fan is receiving CPR in the stands. Sadly, SkySports later in the evening reported that the fan had past away. 

46: Game back underway. Two changes for us at half time. Worthington and Daniels on for Steve Cook and Mings. 0-1.

49: Mousset combines well with Afobe once again, with the goalkeeper out well to bundle away the danger.

50: Naismith sends Pitman through on goal, but Begovic makes a good stop to deny the former Bournemouth striker
51: What a save! Pitman is clean through but Begovic stands up well to palm around the post!

Davies then heads narrowly over from the resulting corner
52: Portsmouth level. Pitman finds Chaplin who calmly finishes from just inside the area. 1-1.
GOAL! Pompey 1 (Chaplin 52) Bournemouth 1
Pitman sends a cushioned header into Chaplin's path and the striker beats Begovic to bring Pompey level
53: Mousset's shot pushed over the bar by McGee
GOAL! Pompey 1 Bournemouth 2 (Afobe 54)
54: Game really livening up now, as Mousset's smashes goalwards from 20 yards with the goalkeeper punching over the bar!
Bournemouth immediately restore their advantage courtesy of a neat back-heel by Afobe
55: GOAL! We're back in front, as Afobe flicks home a loose ball from inside the six yard box! 1-2.
59: Eight changes. Federici, Ake, Gosling, L Cook, Ibe, Pugh, King and Defoe are all on.
63: cry for a penalty when Bennett's cross strikes Francis' arm, but the referee's not interested

69: Lalkovic for Naismith

72: Game a little disjointed following substitutions for both sides. We still lead 1-2.
73: Rose tries to chip the ball towards Chaplin in the box, but Ake cuts it out
77: That flurry of substitutions has taken the sting out of the match
78: Collision of heads between King and Davies. Stoppage in play, with both players down receiving treatment.
81: Chaplin wriggles into the area and sees a low shot across the goal cannon off the base of the post!
87: Holmes-Dennis' cross has to be cleared behind by Gosling
87: Lalkovic's corner is then headed narrowly over by Burgess 

90: Chance! Defoe's effort is blocked, with Gosling then seeing an effort deflect wide.
90: Gosling's shot is deflected wide by Holmes-Dennis
90+1: Good tackle by Burgess to deny Defoe
Full Time: Pompey 1 Bournemouth 2