Portsmouth 2-1 Charlton Athletic: Post-match review, Stats, Key moments

Portsmouth secured a 2-1 victory over Charlton Athletic in a tense Championship encounter. The first half passed without goals, as both sides probed but failed to break the deadlock, with Portsmouth coming off a mixed run of draws and a recent win against Blackburn Rovers that hinted at growing confidence at home. Charlton, arriving after a string of losses including defeats to Norwich and Middlesbrough, looked to steady their form but couldn’t capitalise early on.

The breakthrough came in the 69th minute when Conor Shaughnessy scored for Portsmouth, shifting momentum their way, though yellow cards for both teams added to the scrappy nature of the game. Drama unfolded in stoppage time as Harvey Knibbs equalised for Charlton in the 90+6th minute, only for Minhyeok Yang to snatch a winner for Portsmouth two minutes later in the 90+8th. This late twist rewarded Portsmouth’s persistence, building on their recent home win, while Charlton’s away struggles continued with another narrow defeat.

Portsmouth edged possession with 55% of the ball, allowing them to dictate much of the tempo, though Charlton’s 11 corners compared to Portsmouth’s five suggested the visitors were more threatening from set pieces and created pressure through sustained attacks. Successful dribbles were close, with Portsmouth at 40 and Charlton at 33, indicating both sides had players capable of beating opponents, but the even split of two yellow cards each pointed to a feisty contest without major disciplinary blow-ups. Assists were level at one apiece, reflecting the decisive moments that came from quality service rather than individual brilliance.

Substitutions played a key role late on, with Portsmouth making five changes including Minhyeok Yang replacing Harvey Blair and Conor Shaughnessy coming on for Hayden Matthews both at 64 minutes, followed by Márk Kosznovszky for Conor Chaplin at 65, Ibane Bowat for Márk Kosznovszky at 85, and Franco Umeh-Chibueze for Makenzie Kirk at 90+1. Charlton used four, bringing on Rob Apter for James Bree, Sonny Carey for Luke Berry, and Macaulay Gillesphey for Reece Burke all at 84 minutes, plus Harvey Knibbs for Joe Rankin-Costello at 85, which injected energy but couldn’t prevent the late defeat.

The match turned in the 69th minute when Conor Shaughnessy scored for Portsmouth, assisted by Adrian Segečić, breaking a stalemate after a period of building pressure from the home side. Yellow cards disrupted the flow, with Regan Poole booked for Portsmouth at 74 minutes and Ibane Bowat at 90+4, while Charlton’s Amari’i Bell and Joe Rankin-Costello picked up cautions at 59 and 61 minutes respectively, adding tension without leading to dismissals.

Stoppage time delivered the real drama, as Harvey Knibbs equalised for Charlton at 90+6 with an assist from Miles Leaburn, only for Minhyeok Yang to restore Portsmouth’s lead at 90+8 and seal the win. Impact substitutions bolstered both attacks, with Shaughnessy and Yang proving decisive for the hosts after coming on in the second half, while Knibbs made his mark off the bench for the visitors.

Portsmouth lined up in a 4-2-3-1 formation, focusing on a solid defensive base that allowed midfielders like Márk Kosznovszky, who came on as a substitute, to support the attack. Key partnerships emerged in defence with players such as Regan Poole and Ibane Bowat, who both received yellow cards, while upfront Conor Shaughnessy and Minhyeok Yang delivered the goals after their introductions. The setup emphasised width, with Harvey Blair starting before making way for Yang in a tactical switch.

Charlton Athletic deployed a 3-1-4-2 shape, relying on a compact backline to absorb pressure and launch counters through midfielders like Joe Rankin-Costello, who was booked before being replaced by Harvey Knibbs. Standout roles included Miles Leaburn’s creative influence in providing the assist for Knibbs’ late goal, while defensive partnerships involving Amari’i Bell, also cautioned, aimed to hold firm. Substitutes such as Rob Apter, Sonny Carey and Macaulay Gillesphey added fresh legs late on to chase the game.

Miles Leaburn earned Ladbrokes’ Man of the Match award for his influential display, despite not scoring himself, as he provided one assist for Harvey Knibbs’ equaliser and created one big chance alongside two key passes that kept Charlton in the contest. His ability to unlock defences stood out in a tight game, offering moments of quality that nearly salvaged a point for the visitors.

Recent Championship matches:

• Win: 2-1 vs Charlton Athletic (H)
• Draw: 1-1 vs Queens Park Rangers (H)
• Draw: 1-1 vs Derby County (A)
• Win: 2-1 vs Blackburn Rovers (H)
• Loss: 0-1 vs Swansea City (A)

Recent Championship matches:

• Loss: 1-2 vs Portsmouth (A)
• Loss: 0-1 vs Norwich City (A)
• Win: 1-0 vs Oxford United (H)
• Draw: 1-1 vs Birmingham City (A)
• Loss: 1-2 vs Middlesbrough (H)

Portsmouth have just edged a 2-1 win over Charlton Athletic, lifting them to 21st place on 25 points after a recent form that includes draws against Queens Park Rangers and Derby County, plus a prior home victory against Blackburn Rovers. They now face Bristol City on 1 January 2026 at 15:00, with the opponents sitting eighth on 36 points, making this a chance for Portsmouth to build momentum and climb away from the lower reaches of the table.

Charlton Athletic have just suffered a 2-1 defeat to Portsmouth, leaving them 20th on 27 points following a tough run with losses to Norwich City and Middlesbrough, offset by a home win over Oxford United and a draw at Birmingham City. Their next test is against Coventry City on 1 January 2026 at 15:00, where the league leaders on 51 points present a stern challenge, and Charlton will need to regroup to avoid slipping further down the standings.

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Odds and market details are accurate as of the time of publication.