LONDON, 26 November 2003 — Louis Saha scored twice in as many minutes to raise Fulham to fifth place in the Premiership after a 2-0 win over Portsmouth on Monday.
Portsmouth looked capable of notching up their first away win in the Premiership but after half an hour Saha drove in a shot from just inside the penalty area and in the next attack he was on target with a powerful header from close range.
Patrik Berger did Portsmouth’s cause no good by receiving a direct red card for foul and abusive language eight minutes from the final whistle, meaning he faces a two-match ban. With quarter of an hour gone, Fulham defender Jerome Bonnissel cleared Dejan Stefanovic’s header off the goalline and shortly afterward Fulham keeper Edwin van der Sar smothered a chance at the feet of Nigerian striker Yakubu Ayegbini with the defense in disarray.
Steve Stone had created the chance with an intelligent pass forward, but Ayegbini delayed his shot, allowing the Dutch keeper to save at his feet. Against the run of play, Saha turned the game in Fulham’s favor.
Berger conceded a free kick after fouling Moritz Volz and when the ball was lofted into the box. Hayden Foxe’s header dropped for Saha to ram it home for Fulham’s 100th goal in the Premiership. With Portsmouth reeling, Lee Clark crossed from the right and Saha nipped ahead of Foxe to meet the ball with a sweet header two minutes later.
