Portsmouth 1-0 Cardiff City

May 18 2008 Gordon Waddell At Wembley

BEFORE the game he was just Finnish. Now? His reputation is finished as well. Big Peter Enckelman was already responsible for one of the worst goalkeeping bloopers of a generation.

Yesterday he was an accident waiting to happen again - and the on-loan Cardiff City No.1 added to his Hall of shame with the blunder that gifted Portsmouth their first FA Cup in 69 years.

The keeper's infamy has dogged him since he let a throw-in scuff under his studs for a goal in 2002 for Aston Villa at Birmingham.

And on the biggest stage of all here, England's showpiece, the 31-year-old matched it when he spilled a cross at Kanu's feet in the first half for the only goal.

The biggest irony of the lot is that his blunder let Kanu off the hook from going down in the history books himself.

Because that's where the big Nigerian was heading after a first-half miss from two yards that would surely have edged Gordon Smith's legendary Brighton effort out as the worst of all time.

But in the end Kanu was the hero rather than the villain, a man of the match winner in a game more competitive than some at the FA dreamed it might be in the absence of the game's big guns.

And Pompey assistant, Scotland legend Joe Jordan, said: "I couldn't believe Kanu hit that chance off the post - the guy's a magician with his feet. But he put it right and I'm delighted - he's a special guy.

"I got close to winning the Cup with Man United against Arsenal in 1979 when we were 2-0 down, got it back to 2-2 then lost it.

"I told the players they need to take the chances when you get them. I don't get a medal for this but the players have theirs and that's what matters. I know in myself I've been part of something special."

Cup glory also made sure Pompey boss Harry Redknapp enjoyed a successful end to a difficult season, having been arrested as part of a police probe into corruption earlier in the campaign.

He said: "It's fantastic for everybody - my family, the players, it's great. It has been a difficult year off the field so to win the FA Cup is a dream come true.

"Cardiff put us under pressure with balls into the box and they played well.

"When we get in front we're difficult to break down and the defence were terrific."

You had to feel for Cardiff. They threw their lot at it and in Kevin McNaughton in particular at right back they turned in some heroic shifts.

But as Rangers found out on Wednesday night sometimes effort just isn't enough.

Class and cash tell.

And Pompey's means the Cup stays on English soil. It has only made it out of the country once before, the last time Cardiff lifted it in 1927.

When the Bluebirds won that final 81 years ago it was Scot Hugh Ferguson who scored the winner, a tragic hero who committed suicide two years later in the home dressing-room at Dens Park.

Here, two more Scots had the chance - Gavin Rae and McNaughton - and the former Dons man shone throughout.

Barring a moment of David James brilliance City could have been ahead in the 13th minute. The England keeper, a two-time FA Cup Final loser, smothered superbly at the feet of Paul Parry to bail out team-mate Sol Campbell.

Pompey, though, aren't to be messed with. They've taken points from every one of the top four this season and even dumped Man U to get here.

Gradually they made their superiority tell, piling pressure on dodgy Enckelman.

The Finn never looked easy and fumbled a Sulley Muntari cross in 15 minutes before he was well beaten on 22. Kanu turned Glenn Loovens superbly, rounded the keeper then incredibly hit the post from two yards.

There was never a moment when you felt Enckelman had settled. And if that instinct needed backing up he duly obliged in 37 minutes.

John Utaka's low cross from the right was decent but the former Villa No.1 bungled again, popping it straight up for Kanu to knock home.

Enckelman was hopeless with his hands and the black and gold army behind him could only do one thing with theirs. Clutch their heads.

Still, the Welshmen didn't wilt and fromset-pieces they gave Redknapp's side hell.

Roger Johnson twice went close with far-post headers, Loovens had one chopped off for handball and McNaughton was unlucky steaming on to a back-post ball from Parry that had just a little too much on it.

Dave Jones threw on Stevie Thompson with 20 minutes to go and the big Scot did well.

Cardiff chucked everything at defensive twin towers Sylvain Distin and Campbell but while their efforts earned adulation from a fantastic support, Pompey's heroics earned them the medals.