Eleven goals, a penalty save, a penalty scored, a hat-trick, a booking for a player not even on the field, a goalkeeping error, chances galore, some awful defending and some even worse officiating. That pretty much sums it up!
So how do you analyse a game like that? Well I'll give it a try...
We took the lead after John Utaka used his pace to beat the Reading offside trap. If it wasn't offside then it was definitely borderline but anyway, Utaka delivers a ball across the box and Benjani knocks it in at the far post. 1-0 after 7 minutes, good start....
Pompey then go on to dominate the game. Diop could only put the ball wide after Hahnemann's spill and the Senegal international then had a long range drive well saved.
Benjani then scores his second goal after beating the Reading defence with a great dribble before unleashing his shot past the Royals 'keeper to double the lead.
By now we are in complete control. Reading are lucky not to concede a third as Glen Johnson's effort from two yards is somehow kept out by Hahnemann. Sean Davis' effort went just over the bar not long after and by now we should be out of sight.
But what's this? Reading are gifted a route back into the game. Liam Rosenior's shot cannons off the underside of the crossbar and Stephen Hunt prods in with the linesman's flag up, presumably for offside. Mark Halsey gave the goal and received tons of abuse as the teams went in at 2-1.
The second half begins and Reading are gifted an equaliser after David James decides he's bored of being stuck on the goal line and inexplicably comes about 30 yards out of his goal. He gets nowhere near the ball as he is rounded by Dave Kitson who slotted into an empty net from a tight angle.
The Reading fans are now doing the "easeh" chant after being on the other end of it in the first half. The Pompey fans up the noise and the team almost instantly reply as Utaka is close to scoring and then Diop's diving header is ruled out for offside as the crowd continue to abuse Halsey and his team of officials!
Sylvain Distin then thought "I've had enough of this defending lark" and went on a run down the left hand side before crossing for Hermann Hreidarsson to beat Hahnemann in the air with a header and put Pompey back in front. The goal was worth seeing just for the Iceland international's celebration!
But Mark Halsey wants to continue to help Reading in their quest for a result and when the away fans cry "handball" after Diop's accidental handle in the box, they are duly given the decision as the home crowd go absolutely berserk!
Nicky Shorey steps up to take the spot kick and plants the ball to James' left but the England 'keeper atones for his earlier error and dives to his left to make the save! The Pompey fans are in raptures as the ball is cleared out for a corner and amist all of this, Matty Taylor is booked despite warming up as a substitute!
Not long after that, Benjani completes his hat-trick after Muntari's through ball put the Zimbabwean in on goal and with the Reading defence left behind, he rounded Hahnemann and tapped in his third to ensure that he'd be taking back the match ball tonight!
Niko Kranjcar played well on the left of midfield and he got himself a goal when he simply nodded in at the far post from Davis' cross from the right. 5-2 with 15 minutes to go and it looked like the game was safe.
Or was it? It didn't take long for Shane Long to deflect in a James Harper to volley to make the score 5-3 as many Pompey fans in the stand, including myself, wondered if the scoring would ever end!
And it didn't stop there as Sean Davis, without a goal for Pompey in well over a year, hit a long range strike to give Pompey their sixth goal. Replays showed that Ivar Ingimarsson deflected the shot into his own net and the scoreboard eventually gave the Reading defender the own goal. So maybe Sean will still be waiting for his goal!
6-3, and the game goes into stoppage time but the scoring still doesn't stop! Rosenior brought down Kranjcar. The crowd chanted for David Nugent but Muntari, who should have taken the penalty against Liverpool, rifled the spot kick into the centre of the roof of the net.
That was seven as the Ghana midfielder showed Shorey how it was done. Shorey would have the final say though, as his shot from the left deflected off Campbell and rolled into the net in what was the final kick off the game.
After all that, I don't think I can analyse this game at all! I think even Redknapp and Coppell would have a hard time doing so. It was just one of those games where absolutely anything could happen! One thing is for certain, the fans certainly got their moneys worth today!
Next up are Fulham at Craven Cottage who have drawn their last two home games 3-3, so who knows what to expect next week!?
Pompey Player Ratings
David James: 6 - Made an awful howler to gift Reading their second goal, but redeemed himself with a good penalty save.
Glen Johnson: 4 - Looked like Reading's best outlet to score after giving away possession too often.
Sol Campbell: 6 - Not his best game.
Sylvain Distin: 7 - Good first half performance, better going forward in the seconfd half!
Hermann Hreidarsson: 7 - Good at the back and did his bit by getting a goal for himself.
Sean Davis: 9 - Another top performance, made some great challenges.
Sulley Muntari: 7 - Good showing and decent penalty.
Papa Bouba Diop: 8 - Another very good performance and I don't think his goal was offside.
Niko Kranjcar: 7 - Simple goal but his creativity meant that Reading were often having to defend.
John Utaka: 8 - Didn't score but created plenty of chances for others to score.
Benjani: 10 - A great hat-trick and did his fair share of defensive work too. Outstanding.
Substitutes
Jamie Ashdown
Noe Pamarot
Pedro Mendes
Matthew Taylor
David Nugent: 6 - Got involved.