Hislop rubs it in on Liverpool

Portsmouth FA Cup hero Shaka Hislop today added to Liverpool’s woe when he revealed his match-winning penalty save from Michael Owen was his first spot-kick stop in normal time.

The goalkeeper dived to his left to clutch Owen’s weak 62nd- minute penalty.

Buoyed by the save, Portsmouth grabbed the winner nine minutes later when Richard Hughes fired home his first goal in 18 months as a Pompey player.

The defeat racks up the pressure on Liverpool boss Gerard Houllier another couple of notches – and the Merseysiders’ disappointment at their cup exit will only be intensified at the revelation Hislop had never before saved a spot kick during a match.

The Trinidad and Tobago international, 35 yesterday, has only saved two penalties in his 14-year career, both of which came in shoot-outs rather than from open play.

“That was the first penalty save of my professional career during normal time.

“I’ve no idea how many have gone past me – there have been far too many.

“I just never seem to guess right – but if you guess right, it’s got to be on your birthday.

“Michael Owen is a very capable penalty taker but the ball came a lot closer to me than I expected.

“I’ve no idea why I went that way though – it was just a gut feeling and I thought ’Go left’.”

Hislop today hammered out a warning to FA Cup holders and runaway Premiership leaders Arsenal, who Portsmouth now take on in their home quarter-final tie a week on Saturday.

“I am like everyone else and I’ve been on the wrong end of quite a few beatings by Arsenal,” the keeper added.

“But we feel we can hold our own against the best at Fratton Park – and they don’t come any better than Arsenal.”

Hislop should not have had to save from the spot as referee Matt Messias wrongly penalised Matthew Taylor for a fair tackle on Milan Baros.

The official had also got it wrong in the 49th minute when he awarded a spot-kick for handball – then reversed his decision after Portsmouth’s protesting players forced him to consult his linesman.

Scorer Hughes described the elation he felt when his left-foot shot arrowed past Chris Kirkland and into the bottom corner.

“The goal is the highlight of my career so far,” he said.

“It was a great feeling to score my first goal for the club and it was such an important one, especially for someone like me who doesn’t score very often.

“I can understand why Matty Taylor decided to run the length of Anfield when he scored his goal when we drew 1-1 there.”

Pompey’s famous cup victory has bolstered spirits in the camp and Harry Redknapp’s men, fourth bottom in the Premiership, resume their bid to dodge the drop when they take on Newcastle at home on Sunday.