Handy Milan gets lucky
MILAN BAROS confessed to his handball sin and admitted: I got lucky.
The Pompey striker was instrumental in the only goal of the FA Cup semi-final, his parried shot subsequently turned in by the lurking Kanu on 54 minutes.
Television replays later proved he had handled with his right arm as he controlled Glen Johnson's pass on the turn.
It was a pivotal moment which prompted several West Brom players to confront referee Howard Webb, only to have their protests waved away.
Ultimately, it proved to be the decisive moment of the match as Pompey hung on to triumph 1-0 over the Baggies and book a first FA Cup final in 69 years.
And afterwards the guilty culprit, who had already been booked in the first half for handball, conceded he had been fortunate to escape punishment.
He said: 'When Glen Johnson passed the ball I controlled it, maybe I touched it a little bit with my hand as well.
'But the referee hasn't seen it and that's good. I got lucky so I'm happy.
'I then just took the shot and King was in the right place at the right time so he just finished it off and we went 1-0 up.
'It was not an easy game, especially if you are favourites and are expected to win.
'But we played well second half and the most important thing was we scored the first goal.
'It would be difficult to have to come back from 1-0 behind.
'West Brom played well, especially in the first half.
'They kept the ball and they tried to pass.
'They didn't play long balls that much, but they didn't create many chances.
'When we scored we had a couple more opportunities and it's a shame that we haven't taken them because the game could have been finished 10 minutes before the end.
'At half time Harry told us to improve because West Brom kept the possession in the first half and we knew we could play better football.
'In the second half we did just that.
'That first goal was so important, though.'
Baros confirmed that, under terms of his season-long loan deal from Lyon, he will be free to play in the May 17 FA Cup final.
Intriguingly, it could be his last-ever Pompey match if they decline to take up the option on a permanent deal.
But the 26-year-old is relishing the chance of adding the FA Cup to winners' medals in the Champions League, League Cup and French championship already in his possession.
He added: 'I think we deserve to be in the final.
'We play good football, even in the league.
'We are in the final and we have to make sure we finish it off.
'It's a great opportunity to get into Europe.
'We have to make sure that we come back here for the final and we are going to win it.'
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Saturday 11 February 2012
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