Brad Guzan was in goal for the Carling Cup match-up between Villa and Portsmouth, getting the 4-2 win at Fratton Park. Guzan needed an early comeback and eight saves after a Stiliyan Petrov own-goal put Pompey up in the 10th-minute. Emile Heskey brought Villa level two minutes later, and James Milner made it 2-0 in the 27th. Stuart Downing scored for Villa in the 74th. Nwankwo Kanu pulled one back for Portsmouth in the 87th, but Villa scored again through Ashley Young in the 89th-minute.
"I wouldn't downplay it in the slightest," Villa manager Martin O'Neill said. "It is great to be in the semi-finals. That was tough this evening. First-half I thought we started quite brightly then conceded the goal from the corner kick and it looked as if it might be a long evening. But we came roaring back into the game and won it quite convincingly in the end."
Brad Friedel was on the bench for Aston Villa, taking the backup role in the League Cup.
