The Blues climb out of the Championship relegation zone thanks to incredibly late drama on a cold evening at Fratton Park.
Despite Harvey Knibbs heading home what appeared to be a last-minute equaliser, Portsmouth managed to put themselves back in front with the last kick of the night.
The returning Conor Shaughnessy opened the scoring on 69 minutes, but Knibbs was able to head in a reply, with what seemed to be the last kick of the game.
However, it was the Tottenham Hotspur loanee Yang Minhyeok who made sure the Blues snatched back what was already a well-earned 3 points.
There were 3 changes to the side that drew 1-1 at home to Queen’s Park Rangers on Boxing Day last Friday.
Marlon Pack came back into the side as captain instead of Márk Kosznovszky, Adrian Segečic for the absent Callum Lang, and Makenzie Kirk for Colby Bishop, who pulled out of the warm-up and was replaced by Luke Le Roux on the subs bench.
The first half did not have much for either side to contend for, with Charlton having an effort from Charlie Kelman being comfortably saved by Nicolas Schmid.
HALF-TIME: Portsmouth 0-0 Charlton Athletic
Just past the hour mark, John Mousinho made 2 changes, with both goal scorers, Minhyeok and Shaughnessy, coming on for Harvey Blair and Hayden Matthews.
And it was an immediate impact from the man who won Pompey the League title almost two years ago with a similar front-post header, this time via Segečic’s left-footed corner to give the hosts the lead 69 minutes on the clock.
In the final twenty minutes of the game, Nathan Jones’ side began to creep on top, which led to Mousinho adding pace in midfield with the addition of Márk Kosznovszky next to Pack and Andre Dozzell.
Unfortunately for the Hungarian midfielder, he had to be subbed off just 20 minutes after coming on, after taking another nasty whack to what was a recently recovered dead leg after Friday’s 1-1 draw vs QPR.
Ibane Bowat came o
n instead, with a back 5 being implemented for the final five minutes of normal time, which was later followed by a debut for summer signing Franco Umeh, who replaced Kirk up top.
But despite Pompey’s best efforts to keep hold of their 1-0 advantage, Addicks sub Harvey Knibbs was able to head in a 96th-minute equaliser via Rob Apter’s cross with what seemed like the last movement of the night.
Yet still Pompey prevailed and won the game with the very last action on the pitch, when just seconds from the kick off, Minhyeok smashed home Umeh’s lay-off past Thomas Kaminski, which made it 2-1 to Pompey in the 98th minute of play.
FULL-TIME: Portsmouth 2-1 Charlton Athletic
Next up: A New Year’s Day Drip to the West County for John Mousinho’s side, who visit Ashton Gate to face Gerhard Struber’s Bristol City on the first day of 2026.
The Robins currently sit 8th in the Championship on 36 points and go into Thursday’s tie off the back of a 2-1 defeat away to Millwall at The Den.
Last season in Bristol, it was a 3-0 defeat to Portsmouth thanks to a first half brace from Anis Mehmeti and a third goal from Rob Dickie before the half-time whistle.
Portsmouth: 1. Schmid (GK), 24. Devlin, 5. Poole, 14. Matthews (6. Shaughnessy), 22. Swanson, 7. Pack (C), 21. Dozzell, 36. Chaplin (18. Kosznovszky) (17. Bowat), 29. Blair (47. Minhyeok) 10. Segečic, 25. Kirk (15. Umeh) (Formation: 4-2-3-1)
Unused subs: 26. Bursik (GK), 2. Williams, 8. Swift, 16. Le Roux
Goals: Shaughnessy 69’, Minhyeok 90+8’
Bookings: Poole 74’, Bowat 90+4’
Head coach: John Mousinho
Charlton Athletic: 1. Kaminski (GK), 32. Burke (3. Gillesphey), 5. Jones (C), 17. Bell, 28. Bree (30. Apter), 6. Coventry, 8. Berry (14. Carey) 26. Rankin-Costello (41. Knibbs), 7. Campbell, 11. Leaburn, 23. Kelman (Formation: 3-5-2)
Unused subs: 25. Mannion (GK), 10. Docherty, 22. Olafe, 36. Gough, 37. Fullah
Goals: Knibbs 90+6’
Bookings: Bell 59’, Rankin-Costello 61’
Manager: Nathan Jones
Referee: Paul Tierney
Venue: Fratton Park
Attendance: 20,401 (including 2,168 Charlton fans)
You can also replay the Pompey Live: Extra-Time podcast from tonight's broadcast at Fratton Park, where Jake Smith was sat alongside Kirsty Roxanne and James Wilson to dissect the Blues' 2-1 victory over The Addicks.
Jake Smith will be back for the final episode of The Football Hour on Express FM this Tuesday (December 30th) evening from 6pm - He will be joined alongside David Howes and Andrew Barnard to review this match in PO4 and look ahead to the New Year's Day clash with Bristol City at Ashton Gate.
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