Portsmouth seized a crucial three points with a disciplined 1-0 victory over Middlesbrough at Fratton Park, thanks to Yang Min-Hyuk’s deft finish midway through the first half—a moment of quality that ultimately separated two evenly matched sides despite Boro’s territorial dominance.

John Mousinho’s men entered Saturday’s Championship clash as underdogs but delivered a performance of determination and tactical clarity. The decisive goal arrived in the 23rd minute: Jordan Williams surged down the right, exploiting space before whipping in a low cross. Yang Min-Hyuk, finding a pocket near the penalty spot, timed his run perfectly and calmly slotted past Solomon Brynn, igniting celebrations among the home crowd.

Middlesbrough responded by taking control of possession for long stretches—finishing with 62% of the ball and amassing 12 shots—but struggled to find clear openings against Portsmouth’s compact defensive shape. Despite their territorial advantage, Rob Edwards’ side managed just one shot on target, a testament to Portsmouth’s disciplined back four marshaled by Regan Poole and Connor Ogilvie.

The physicality ramped up after halftime, with Portsmouth forced into a flurry of substitutions as Middlesbrough pressed forward. Marlon Pack and goalkeeper Josef Bursik both received yellow cards as the hosts dug deep to preserve their lead. Middlesbrough’s forward trio, including Tommy Conway and Sontje Hansen, threatened intermittently but lacked the incision to truly test Bursik, who was rarely troubled.

Boro captain Dael Fry, reflecting on the defeat, praised his team’s effort but admitted frustration at their inability to translate dominance into goals. “We gave everything, but it just wouldn’t fall for us in the final third,” Fry told club media post-match.

As the final whistle blew amid mounting Boro pressure—eight corners and a cascade of late substitutions—Portsmouth’s resilience held firm. The result propels Pompey up the Championship standings, tightening the race for playoff positions and offering a statement of intent at the campaign’s quarter mark.

For Middlesbrough, it’s a setback tinged with optimism: their command of possession and passing accuracy (84%) offered clear positives, but the lack of sharpness inside the box remains a concern as Edwards’ squad seeks to turn promise into points.

Key moments like Yang Min-Hyuk’s winner and Portsmouth’s dogged defense dominated the highlight reels, as captured by Sky Sports’ official recap, providing a snapshot of a contest where efficiency triumphed over volume on a classic Fratton Park afternoon.