Portsmouth Football Club News

Bochum Youth 0 Pompey Academy 1 Florent Cuvelier’s fifth-minute winner was enough to give Pompey their first-ever victory on German soil against a powerful under-19 Bochum side. The midfielder slammed the only goal past keeper Janas Ermes after combining with Ellis Martin and Nadir Ciftci. He then saved Pompey at the other end of the pitch, heading a Bochum effort off the line 10 minutes from the end. The German side threw the kitchen sink at the Blues in the final 20 minutes, but Cuvelier’s clearance - coupled with an inspired goalkeeping display by Tommy Smith - kept them at bay. Smith’s finest moment arrived when he somehow clawed Pascal Thomas’ header off the line from a corner. He had previously kept out Orguzhan Kafkir’s effort, before rushing off his line to deny Diego Rodriguez. Until Bochum’s late push it had been a game of few chances, although both Gael Nlundulu and Cuvelier shot wide early in the game. A superb defensive display by the Blues had mopped up whatever their opponents could throw at them – a feat the staunch Germany side of the 1970s would have been proud of. Pompey: T.Smith, Seeley, Sowah, Goddard (Stockford 86), Ryan, Tsovolos, Nlundulu (M.Smith 77), Cuvelier, Martin (Hughes 77), Ciftci, Navas Alors (Bogard 61)

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