Match ends, Plymouth Argyle 1, Portsmouth 0.
PlymouthPlymouth Argyle1PortsmouthPortsmouth0
Peter Hartley's stoppage-time goal sent Plymouth into the League Two play-off final at the expense of Portsmouth.
In a tense second leg, the Pilgrims deserved their 3-2 aggregate win after making a host of chances at Home Park.
Argyle's Graham Carey had an early shot tipped over while Jamille Matt missed three second-half chances and Jake Jervis hit the post late on.
But Hartley bundled in Carey's corner to secure a Wembley final on 30 May against either Wimbledon or Accrington.
The victory came 20 years to the day after Argyle, then managed by Neil Warnock, beat Colchester to make the fourth-tier play-off final.
Missed chances
From the first minute, when Carey's long-range shot was tipped over by Pompey's on-loan goalkeeper Ryan Allsop, Argyle showed their intention.
Jervis skewed a shot high and wide towards the end of a first period low on quality and chances for either side.
But after the break the game went up a gear, with Pompey coming close through Gary Roberts and Adam McGurk.
Matt - Argyle's two-goal hero from Thursday's drawn first leg at Fratton Park - blazed over when clean through, missed with a free header and then watched as another header was kept out by Allsop in the 90th minute to set up the corner that Argyle scored from.
Pompey, who will be in League Two for a fourth successive season next term, struggled to seriously test Plymouth goalkeeper Luke McCormick.
Phoenix from the flames
Both cities may have fine naval heritages, but Plymouth and Portsmouth have both suffered falls from grace because of financial problems in recent years.
Argyle almost went out of business in 2011, while in 2012 the administrators were called in at Fratton Park.
And while neither side fell out of the Football League, this season is the first time both of them have had concerted efforts in the same season at getting out of League Two.
While Argyle's renaissance could begin with promotion after five seasons in League Two, Portsmouth must contemplate another 12 months in the fourth tier.
Manager reaction
Plymouth manager Derek Adams told BBC Radio Devon: "It's a fantastic achievement for the football club. It's 20 years since we last went to Wembley and now we're going back.
"We hit the post and we had a couple of near misses, then it got nearer to the end of the game and you got worried that Portsmouth might nick one.
"But to score in the way we did has been very good for us.
"The fans were fantastic from start to finish. And I've got to say to Paul Cook that he was man enough to come in and see our lads and wish them all the best. It's not the easiest thing to do after you've been defeated but it was big of him to do that."
Line-ups
Plymouth
Formation 4-2-3-1
- 23McCormick
- 2Mellor
- 5Nelson
- 6Hartley
- 3Sawyer
- 4McHughBooked at 29mins
- 20Boateng
- 14Jervis
- 10Carey
- 11WyldeSubstituted forTannerat 75'minutes
- 19Matt
Substitutes
- 9Reid
- 15Harvey
- 16Purrington
- 24Rooney
- 27Tanner
- 28Forster
- 31Dorel
Portsmouth
Formation 4-4-2
- 22Allsop
- 2Davies
- 6Burgess
- 15Barton
- 3Stevens
- 26EvansSubstituted forMcGurkat 31'minutes
- 29HollandsSubstituted forCloseat 44'minutesBooked at 71mins
- 8Doyle
- 23BennettSubstituted forChaplinat 90+3'minutes
- 10McNulty
- 11Roberts
Substitutes
- 7McGurk
- 14Naismith
- 16Whatmough
- 18Tollitt
- 19Chaplin
- 33Close
- 38Haunstrup
- Referee:
- Paul Tierney
- Attendance:
- 15,011
Match Stats
Home TeamPlymouthAway TeamPortsmouth
- Possession
- Home41%
- Away59%
- Shots
- Home17
- Away11
- Shots on Target
- Home3
- Away2
- Corners
- Home6
- Away3
- Fouls
- Home15
- Away11
Live Text
Post update
Full Time
Second Half ends, Plymouth Argyle 1, Portsmouth 0.
Post update
Foul by Enda Stevens (Portsmouth).
Post update
Kelvin Mellor (Plymouth Argyle) wins a free kick in the defensive half.
Substitution
Substitution, Portsmouth. Conor Chaplin replaces Kyle Bennett.
Goal!
Goal! Plymouth Argyle 1, Portsmouth 0. Peter Hartley (Plymouth Argyle) header from the left side of the six yard box to the bottom left corner following a corner.
Post update
Attempt blocked. Peter Hartley (Plymouth Argyle) header from the left side of the six yard box is blocked. Assisted by Graham Carey with a cross.
Post update
Corner, Plymouth Argyle. Conceded by Ryan Allsop.
Post update
Attempt saved. Jamille Matt (Plymouth Argyle) header from the centre of the box is saved in the top centre of the goal. Assisted by Graham Carey with a cross.
Post update
Ben Close (Portsmouth) wins a free kick in the defensive half.
Post update
Foul by Jamille Matt (Plymouth Argyle).
Post update
Jake Jervis (Plymouth Argyle) hits the right post with a header from the centre of the box. Assisted by Craig Tanner with a cross.
Post update
Foul by Gary Roberts (Portsmouth).
Post update
Hiram Boateng (Plymouth Argyle) wins a free kick in the defensive half.
Post update
Adam McGurk (Portsmouth) wins a free kick in the defensive half.
Post update
Foul by Carl McHugh (Plymouth Argyle).
Post update
Attempt missed. Ben Close (Portsmouth) right footed shot from the right side of the box is just a bit too high. Assisted by Enda Stevens with a headed pass following a corner.
Post update
Corner, Portsmouth. Conceded by Peter Hartley.
Post update
Attempt blocked. Kyle Bennett (Portsmouth) left footed shot from the right side of the box is blocked. Assisted by Ben Davies.
Post update
Gary Roberts (Portsmouth) wins a free kick on the right wing.
