Adrian Segecic scored a maiden EFL hat-trick as Portsmouth beat Stoke 3-1 in the SkyBet Championship to record a first ever victory at the bet 365 Stadium.
The Australian born Croatian gave Pompey a 32nd-minute lead and netted again after 66 minutes following Lamine Cisse’s equaliser two minutes into the second half.
Top-scorer Segecic then completed his landmark treble with a 20-yard left-footed effort to wrap up the points eight minutes from time.
Portsmouth’s last away win at Stoke came at City’s former Victoria Ground home in February 1995.
Adrian Segecic of Portsmouth celebrates scoring his team’s second goal
And this rare success ensured Stoke, who were second earlier in the season, will suffer an eighth successive bottom-half finish since relegation from the Premier League in 2018.
Portsmouth, already freed of relegation fears, returned to action for the first time since their 5-1 defeat at Coventry which secured the second-tier title for Frank Lampard’s side.
Austrian keeper Nicolas Schmid was one of five changes made by manager John Mousinho for Pompey’s final away game of the season.
But within three minutes understudy Josef Bursik – starting for the first time since an FA Cup defeat by Arsenal last January – left the field through injury.
Ben Killip replaced him to make his first appearance since taking the gloves against Sheffield Wednesday last September.
Around 3,000 Pompey fans, celebrating their recent Championship survival, were enjoying themselves even if the action was less enthralling.
But 13 minutes from the break the visitors went ahead through former A-League talisman Segecic.
Collecting a threaded through pass from Harvey Blair, the ex Sydney FC star had time before rifling a rising left-footed shot beyond Tommy Simkin for his eighth goal of the season.
Stoke rallied before half-time with Cisse’s back post effort via a Sorba Thomas cross denied by Killip.
As the ball bounced around the six-yard box Spurs loanee Ash Phillips and Cisse could not force it over the line.
But there was little surprise when the home side was booed off at the break.
Those jeers quickly turned to cheers three minutes after the restart as Cisse headed in an in-swinging corner from player-of-the-season Thomas.
Segecic went close to restoring Pompey’s lead after 62 minutes but headed into the side netting.
He made no mistake though four minutes later. Josh Murphy crossed from the Stoke right, Colby Bishop could not get a touch but Segecic nipped ahead of Ben Gibson to stab the ball home from three yards.
Full-back Jordan Williams almost made it 3-1 but put his shot fractionally wide of Simkin’s right hand upright.
However Segecic, 21, rounded off a memorable individual display with his third goal and fourth in two games.
The managers
Stoke’s Mark Robins:
To follow…
Portsmouth’s John Mousinho:
To follow…
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