Stewart Downing scored on his first Villa start to book their place in the Carling Cup semi-finals.
Downing caps first start with late goal as Villans prevail
Stewart Downing scored on his first start for Aston Villa to book their place in the Carling Cup semi-finals.
Portsmouth had taken an early lead when Stiliyan Petrov diverted a 10th-minute corner into his own net but Emile Heskey drew Villa level just two minutes later.
James Milner put the five-time winners in front with a superb strike in the 27th minute and Downing pounced late on as the hosts pushed for an equaliser.
The 25-year-old winger has been recovering from a foot injury since making a £12million summer move from Middlesbrough, and the England World Cup hopeful capped his first Villa start with a 74th-minute header.
Kanu's late reply gave Pompey hope of extra-time but Ashley Young struck almost immediately to put Villa into the last four for the first time since 2004.
Although Pompey boss Avram Grant has now lost his opening two games in charge, the Carling Cup is hardly the club's top priority as they face a Premier League survival scrap.
Serious Cup hopes
Villla are targeting a first trophy since winning the competition in 1996 and it showed with Martin O'Neill's team selection as the Villa boss went with most of his first-choice line-up, with Brad Guzan back in goal after his penalty heroics at Sunderland in the previous round.
Unfortunately for Pompey, they were denied two of their best players this season as Kevin-Prince Boateng and Jamie O'Hara were ineligible.
Yet the home side got an early break as Danny Webber's poor corner was sliced into his own net by Villa skipper Petrov at the near post.
The lead lasted just two minutes, though, with Milner placing the ball beyond the Pompey defence and Heskey marking a rare start by chipping home keeper Asmir Begovic for his second goal in three games.
Encouraged by the equaliser, the visitors were ahead in the 27th minute as new England international Milner reinforced his own World Cup hopes.
Superb strike
The versatile midfielder cut inside from the left flank after collecting Ashley Young's throw-in and gave Begovic no chance with a thumping drive inside the far post.
Pompey's response was a shot from Hassan Yebda that went wide and Nadir Belhadj volleyed over while Guzan had to dive at the feet of Webber after a poor clearance by Stephen Warnock.
However, Villa could have extended their lead before the break when winger Young crossed from the left but Gabriel Agbonlahor's header went just over the crossbar.
Villa were proving difficult to break down, sitting deep to defend then attacking with pace, as best shown through winger Young, who had an effort saved after exchanging passes with Heskey.
Pompey defender Tal Ben Haim also had to hack clear when Heskey sent Warnock down the left channel and the full-back pulled back into the danger area.
Anthony Vanden Borre was booked for diving in the area as Pompey struggled to prise open the Villa defence and Downing looked to have killed them off 16 minutes.
Ashley Young's right-wing cross was deflected across the Pompey goal and Downing's header crept past Begovic at the far post.
Kanu then bundled in a scrappy goal from close range, but Young ensured there would be no tense finish as he took down Agbonlahor's right-wing cross before seeing his close-range strike deflected over Begovic.
| Portsmouth |
Team Statistics |
Aston Villa |
| 2 |
Goals |
4 |
| 1 |
1st Half Goals |
2 |
| 3 |
Shots on Target |
6 |
| 2 |
Shots off Target |
5 |
| 0 |
Blocked Shots |
0 |
| 6 |
Corners |
2 |
| 13 |
Fouls |
13 |
| 2 |
Offsides |
1 |
| 3 |
Yellow Cards |
2 |
| 0 |
Red Cards |
0 |
| 51.8 |
Possession |
48.2 |
|
