The regulation 90 minutes ended in a goal-less draw and no extra time was played, and the Portsmouth players were not up to the high-pressure task.

The match started off sluggishly, with both sides still feeling the effects of a long break and intense international pre-season tours.

United had the best chance of the match in the first half, and Darren Fletcher will be thinking about the miss for a long time yet. The Scotland international had the easiest of chances but missed the close range tap in much to everyone at Wembley's surprise.

Pompey also had a chance to break the deadlock in the opening stanza, with striker Jermaine Defoe making a thrilling run down the middle only to scuff the ball wide in the area.

After the break United came out firing and only David James' quick hands kept Pompey from going down a goal. Michael Carrick neatly chipped the ball over the defenders' heads, but James leaped up to tip it onto the bar, after which his team mates cleared it away.

The England stopper was again called into action minutes later when Carlos Tevez made a jinking run into the box. Just as Tevez was about to shoot, James slid off his line to smother the ball with his body.

Regulation time ended 0-0 and they went straight into penalties without extra time. Lassana Diara and Arnold Mvuemba missed their chances at goal, meaning United needed only Giggs, Tevez and Carrick's strikes to win.