Colby Bishop led the way with a hat-trick as Portsmouth took a giant step towards Championship safety with a spectacular 5-3 win at Norwich.
Matt Ritchie and Regan Poole were also on target in a victory that took Pompey six points clear of the relegation zone with just three games left to play.
The visitors took control by scoring three times either side of the interval to move 4-1 ahead after Josh Sargent had quickly cancelled out Bishop’s early opener.
Jack Stacey pulled one back for the mid-table Canaries but defender Poole made the game safe before Emi Marcondes headed home a late consolation.
Norwich made a bright start, forcing a corner inside 10 seconds and bringing a good save out of Nicolas Schmid in the first minute when Jose Cordoba fired in a low shot.
Pompey soon settled and went in front after 15 minutes as Ritchie swung in a cross from the right and Bishop rose highest to direct a header into the far corner.
The hosts were back on level terms within six minutes after Jacob Wright’s corner caused chaos in the Portsmouth area. Freddie Potts managed to hook the ball off the line but his clearance landed kindly at the feet of Sargent, who blasted home his 15th goal of the season.
Kellen Fisher wasted a glorious chance to put City in front, heading straight at Schmid after popping up unmarked at the back post – and the visitors then struck twice in seven minutes to move 3-1 ahead.
Ritchie side-footed home Josh Murphy’s low cross to restore his side’s lead after 39 minutes before Bishop doubled his tally from the penalty spot in injury-time after Marcelino Nunez had upended Isaac Hayden.
Bishop completed his hat-trick six minutes after the restart after more good work from Murphy. This time the former Norwich player put another good cross into the six-yard box after his initial effort had been blocked and an alert Bishop pounced on the loose ball and finished with aplomb.
Norwich pulled one back after 64 minutes, substitute Stacey racing clear down the right before thumping home his second goal in successive games.
But it did not take long for Pompey to restore their three-goal cushion. With 71 minutes on the clock a move down the right saw Adil Aouchiche cut the ball back for Poole to produce another emphatic finish to make it 5-2.
There was still time for one more goal, with Norwich substitute Marcondes glancing home a header from a corner in the final minute of normal time.
[(Gil Vicente FC) Strength]: 1. Gil Vicente FC finished 13th in the league last season. They aim to avoid relegation and fight for a Conference League spot in the new season. Facing FC Porto, the team are motivated to take points in this home game.2. Gil Vicente FC won the recent two games in a row across all competitions. They won 2-0 over CD Nacional in the last league game, smoothly starting wi...
[(Dynamo Dresden) Neutral]: 1. Both sides have never met before, so there were no records to refer to.[(Dynamo Dresden) Weakness]: 1. As the newly promoted team in the 2. Bundesliga, Dynamo Dresden suffered a losing streak in the first two rounds, being demoralized a lot. Facing 1.FSV Mainz 05 in the first game of the DFB-Pokal at home, the team find it hard to secure a win, indicating doubtful mo...
[(Jaro) Strength]: 1. Jaro are 8th in the table and still need points to secure a Championship play-offs spot, indicating full motivation in this match.2. Forward Kerfala Cissoko scored the winner in the last game, helping his side win.3. Jaro won 2-1 over FC Haka in the last game, securing a 2-game winning streak and showing outstanding recent form.4. Jaro were unbeaten with 1 win and 1 draw in t...
[(SC Preussen Munster) Strength]: 1. In the new season, SC Preussen Munster's 3 goals in two league games were scored by 3 players, showing multiple scorers on offense.2. SC Preussen Munster won 4 of the last 5 home games in AH, boasting a decent home trend.[(SC Preussen Munster) Neutral]: 1. SC Preussen Munster drew 1-1 with SC Paderborn 07 in the last 2. Bundesliga game, showing average performa...
[(Rot-Weiss Essen) Strength]: 1. Rot-Weiss Essen are playing in the 3. Liga this season. Despite their inferior strength to their rivals, the team will still go all out to secure a qualification spot in this home game.2. Tobias Kraulich scored a goal in the last game, showing his outstanding form.3. Rot-Weiss Essen scored 2 goals and conceded 2 in the last 2 competitive games, boasting decent offe...
[(IFK Varnamo) Strength]: 1. IFK Varnamo are at the bottom of the table this season. If they want to avoid relegation, they have to go all out for points in every game, indicating strong motivation in this match.2. Kai Meriluoto scored a goal and made an assist in the last game, helping the team tie with IF Elfsborg.3. IFK Varnamo won the last 2 games in AH, demonstrating recent performances in li...
[(Le Mans) Strength]: 1. Le Mans drew with En Avant Guingamp in the last league game, failing to start with a win. In this home match, they are motivated to secure their first win of the new season.2. William Harhouz scored an equalizer before the end of the last game, helping the team tie with En Avant Guingamp.3. Le Mans secured a 3-game winning streak in recent warm-up games at home, showing de...
[(Mirassol FC) Strength]: 1. Mirassol FC midfielder Gabriel Santana scored a goal in the last league game, performing actively.2. Mirassol FC scored 10 goals in the last 5 league games, averaging 2 goals per game, showing full offense.3. Mirassol FC conceded 5 goals in the last 5 league games, with an average of only 1 goal per game.4. Mirassol FC boast reliable home strength, remaining unbeaten w...
[(Leeds United) Strength]: 1. After relegation, Leeds United returned to the Premier League this season as the EFL Championship winners. The team significantly strengthened their squad during the summer transfer window, with the goal of staying in the Premier League this season. For their opening home game against Everton, they are determined to secure a winning start to the league, showing strong...
[(Elche) Strength]: 1. As the newly promoted team this season, Elche are motivated to start with a home win in their debut.2. In the summer window, Elche signed midfielder Federico Redondo, Real Madrid loan forward Alvaro Rodriguez, and Valencia CF striker German Valera.3. Elche finished 22 wins, 11 draws, and 9 losses in the Segunda Division last season, smoothly being promoted as the 2nd-placed ...
- 1 Brentford Agree Deal to Sign Dango Ouattara From Bournemouth
- 2 TIPS - Botafogo de Futebol e Regatas VS Liga Deportiva Universitaria
- 3 TIPS - Villarreal VS Real Oviedo
- 4 ngland cricket legend’s granddaughter stuns in bikini
- 5 Lamela explains retirement decision: It started 11 years ago...
- 6 Estevao Willian set for 'key' Chelsea role after debut vs Palace
- 7 TIPS - Club Necaxa VS Club Leon
- 8 Emotional Arne Slot admits he had wanted to bring late Diogo Jota on as a substitute in Liverpool's dramatic victory over Bournemouth
- 9 Benjamin Sesko vs Viktor Gyokeres: Man Utd-Arsenal showdown sets early stage for big-money No.9s to show the Premier League what they can offer
- 10 TIPS - Cambuur Leeuwarden VS FC Oss