Cameron Brannagan and Nathan Holland hit brilliant long-range efforts as Oxford came from behind late on to beat 10-man Portsmouth 3-2 in an incident-packed match at the Kassam Stadium.
Oxford made a dream start as Luke McNally met Billy Bodin’s sixth-minute corner with a firm downward header past keeper Gavin Bazunu.
Pompey were level four minutes later with Ronan Curtis skilfully flicking the ball up to keep it in play and then crossing for Michael Jacobs to tap in.
But the visitors were dealt a blow in the 16th minute. Joe Morrell’s high challenge on fellow midfielder Brannagan was adjudged dangerous and referee Sam Barrott showed him a red card.
After a 20-minute delay to the second half because of a reported medical emergency, Pompey punished the U’s with a devastating counter-attack in the 51st minute, finished off by Curtis from Jacobs’ pass.
Brannagan smashed home an unstoppable angled drive nine minutes from time to make it 2-2.
And in the seventh of 10 minutes of stoppage time, Holland struck again from distance to earn play-off chasing Oxford victory.
Match report supplied by PA Media.
Line-ups
Oxford Utd
Formation 3-5-2
- 13Stevens
- 16McNally
- 5MooreBooked at 90mins
- 4BrownSubstituted forHollandat 55′minutes
- 7WilliamsSubstituted forWinnallat 63′minutes
- 10Sykes
- 26KaneBooked at 80mins
- 8BrannaganBooked at 64mins
- 42SeddonBooked at 77minsSubstituted forMousinhoat 90+8′minutes
- 9Taylor
- 23BodinSubstituted forMcGuaneat 87′minutes
Substitutes
- 1Eastwood
- 11Winnall
- 14Forde
- 15Mousinho
- 18McGuane
- 27Holland
- 28Smyth
Portsmouth
Formation 3-4-3
- 1BazunuBooked at 88mins
- 17Carter
- 20RaggettBooked at 90mins
- 16Ogilvie
- 13FreemanSubstituted forRobertsonat 60′minutes
- 23ThompsonSubstituted forTunnicliffeat 71′minutesBooked at 90mins
- 21MorrellBooked at 16mins
- 3HumeBooked at 45minsSubstituted forHackett-Fairchildat 90+5′minutes
- 24JacobsBooked at 24mins
- 19HirstBooked at 28minsSubstituted forO’Brienat 83′minutes
- 11CurtisBooked at 81mins
Substitutes
- 4Robertson
- 7O’Brien
- 8Tunnicliffe
- 9Walker
- 10Harness
- 18Hackett-Fairchild
- 28Webber
Live Text
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Match ends, Oxford United 3, Portsmouth 2.
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Second Half ends, Oxford United 3, Portsmouth 2.
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Sean Raggett (Portsmouth) is shown the yellow card for a bad foul.
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Marcus McGuane (Oxford United) wins a free kick on the left wing.
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Foul by Sean Raggett (Portsmouth).
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Substitution, Oxford United. John Mousinho replaces Steve Seddon.
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Goal! Oxford United 3, Portsmouth 2. Nathan Holland (Oxford United) right footed shot from outside the box to the bottom right corner.
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Corner, Portsmouth. Conceded by Nathan Holland.
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Substitution, Portsmouth. Reeco Hackett-Fairchild replaces Denver Hume.
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Elliott Moore (Oxford United) is shown the yellow card for a bad foul.
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Foul by Elliott Moore (Oxford United).
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Ronan Curtis (Portsmouth) wins a free kick in the defensive half.
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Ryan Tunnicliffe (Portsmouth) is shown the yellow card.
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Mark Sykes (Oxford United) wins a free kick on the right wing.
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Foul by Michael Jacobs (Portsmouth).
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Foul by Herbie Kane (Oxford United).
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Aiden O’Brien (Portsmouth) wins a free kick in the defensive half.
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Elliott Moore (Oxford United) wins a free kick in the defensive half.
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Foul by Aiden O’Brien (Portsmouth).
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Gavin Bazunu (Portsmouth) is shown the yellow card.

