POMPEY'S hopes of causing a major FA Cup shock were dealt a blow before kick-off as Sir Alex Ferguson resisted the temptation to rest his top stars.
Anyone hoping that Cristiano Ronaldo and Wayne Rooney might be left out were sorely disappointed as the United boss paid Pompey a big compliment by selecting arguably his strongest side.
Pompey, meanwhile, made just one change to the defeat at Everton last weekend with the cup-tied Jermain Defoe replaced by John Utaka.
That saw Harry Redknapp revert to the 4-3-3 formation that has served the team well away from home this season with Utaka and Niko Kranjcar as the wide players supporting the lone striker Kanu.

United: Van der Sar (Kuszczak, h-t), Brown, Ferdinand, Vidic, Evra, Ronaldo, Scholes, Hargreaves (Carrick, 69), Nani, Tevez (Anderson, 69), Rooney. Subs: O'Shea, Park.

Pompey: James, Johnson, Campbell, Distin, Hreidarsson, Utaka (Lauren, 74), Diop, Diarra, Muntari, Kranjcar (Hughes, 81), Kanu (Baros, 53). Subs: Ashdown, Lauren, Mvuemba, Hughes.

00 - Kick-off.

04 - Decent start from both sides but neither goalkeeper has been worked yet.

08 - Big let-off for Pompey as Ronaldo tumbles over in the box, but the referee decides it was shoulder to shoulder from Sylvain Distin. It was a good call from the ref, but Sir Alex Ferguson's face is even redder than usual as he loses his rag.

11 - Papa Bouba Diop is in the book after a tug back on Ronaldo.

16 - Tricky stuff from Niko Kranjcar, before he lets fly from range. Edwin Van der Sar does not look too sharp and only just stops the shot from squirming past him.

19 - Pompey are caught on the break from a corner as Carlos Tevez and Wayne Rooney so nearly put United ahead. Rooney rounds David James, but Sol Campbell makes a fine last-ditch tackle. But the loose ball falls to Tevez, only for Glen Johnson to make a brilliant goal-line clearance to save Pompey.

21 - Rooney is in the book now for flying in with a dangerous tackle on Kranjcar. If he'd actually caught him, he could have been off.

29 - Free-kick in a good position for Pompey but Kranjcar wastes it with a shocker.

32 - Good stuff from Tevez as he cuts in from the left and unleashes a shot that James holds at the second attempt.

39 - Diarra's shown a yellow card after a bodycheck on Ronaldo. Not sure he could have got out of the way there, but the ref points out his earlier misdemeanours and shows him the card.

45 - Half time.

Half-time substitute for United with Tomas Kuszczak on for Van der Sar.

52 - Even start to the second half before Nani's drive is well gathered by James.

53 - Sub for Pompey as Kanu's legs have done enough for one day and Milan Baros is on in his place.

58 - Pompey survive an almighty goalmouth scramble with bodies all over the place until Ronaldo drags his shot wide from the edge of the box.

62 - Baros is almost clean through on goal only for the referee to judge that he hauled back Owen Hargreaves on his way through.

65 - Brilliant link-up play between Rooney and Ronaldo unlocks the Pompey defence but the Portuguese wasted a glorious opportunity as he scuffs his shot wide.

69 - The pressure is building here as Patrice Evra escapes inside the box but his pull-back doesn't find a team-mate. Michael Carrick and Anderson are on for Tevez and Hargreaves.

70) Amazing escape for Pompey as Carrick goes through past James and looks certain to score only for Distin to somehow block on the line. Nobody can work out how it stayed out. That was unbelievable.

73) More heat on the Pompey goal as Evra smacks one, only or James to make a marvellous save as he tips the shot on to the post. Lauren is on for John Utaka.

78) GOAL - Baros wins Pompey a penalty as he bears down on goal, Kuszczak is sent off and Muntaris tucks away the spot-kick. Rio Ferdinand has taken over in goal and can do nothing to save it.

81) Richard Hughes is on for the last 10 minutes. Can Pompey hang on here?

86) Ronaldo's free-kick whistles over the bar. This could be a tense final few minutes.

90) Into stoppage time here and there are four minutes between Pompey and a place in the semi-finals. Just hold on, boys!

FULL TIME - POMPEY ARE IN THE FA CUP SEMI-FINAL

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