Portsmouth secured their inaugural victory of the Championship campaign with a convincing 3-1 win at Lincoln City, ending the Imps' long‑awaited return to England's second tier. After dropping their first two fixtures by identical scorelines, the visitors found themselves under pressure early on, but a swift seventh‑minute strike from Ryan Kavuma‑McQueen gave them the early advantage they needed. Kavuma‑McQueen collected the ball on the left side of the penalty area and, without hesitation, curled a low, precise shot into the bottom corner, leaving Lincoln goalkeeper George Wickens with little chance.
Just nine minutes later, Adrian Segecic doubled Portsmouth's lead. The Australian midfielder stepped up to take a free‑kick from the edge of the box and unleashed a powerful left‑footed drive that beat Wickens, making the score 2-0 and putting the hosts firmly in control.
Lincoln responded before the half‑hour mark when Reeco Hackett converted a penalty. The spot‑kick resulted from a 20‑yard effort by Adam Reach that was adjudicated as a handball by defender Zak Swanson while attempting to block the strike. Hackett's calm finish reduced the deficit to 2-1, injecting fresh belief into the Imps and setting up a tense final ten minutes of the first half. The remainder of the opening half saw both sides create chances but fail to find the net.
Portsmouth’s captain, Tendayi Darikwa, forced a corner after his first‑time effort was deflected away. A subsequent corner from Ivan Varfolomeev was cleared, only for his second delivery to be met by Darikwa again, whose shot was again deflected, leading to another corner. Lincoln’s Ben House was given a chance by Freddie Draper, but his attempt lacked the necessary power and was comfortably saved by Portsmouth keeper Nicolas Schmid.
The second half began with Lincoln’s skipper Darikwa forced off after ten minutes due to a knee injury, prompting the home debut of record signing Andrei Coubis. The sun shone brightly over the ProAmpac Stadium, but neither team could carve out clear opportunities for the next twenty minutes. Wickens made a crucial intervention, pushing a Colby Bishop header out for a corner and later denying Bishop again with a well‑timed block. Portsmouth’s breakthrough came from the bench when substitute Ebrima Adams was given space in the middle of the park.
He surged forward and unleashed a stunning 25‑yard strike that flew past Wickens into the net at the 69‑minute mark, sealing a 3-1 lead that would prove decisive. Adams’ goal was a testament to his composure and technical ability, providing Portsmouth with a comfortable cushion.
In the closing stages, Segecic came close to adding a fourth, firing a low effort that was saved by Wickens, but the Imps were unable to mount a sustained comeback. The match ended with Portsmouth celebrating a vital three points, while Lincoln continued their search for a first win back in the second division after more than six decades. Post‑match reactions reflected the mixed emotions on both sides. Portsmouth midfielder John Mousinho praised his team’s performance, saying, "It was an excellent display, especially considering the quality of the opposition who amassed 103 points last season.
We handled their physicality well and created genuine attacking threats, even though there were a few defensive lapses we need to address." Lincoln’s manager expressed disappointment, noting, "We dominated large portions of the first half but were let down by the goals we conceded. After a promising start, the early goal knocked the wind out of our sails. The second half lacked intensity, and we must improve defensively to avoid repeating this pattern." Overall, the fixture highlighted Portsmouth’s resilience after a shaky start to the season and underscored Lincoln’s need to tighten up at the back if they hope to secure their long‑awaited return to Championship football.
The win also gave Portsmouth momentum heading into their next fixtures, while Lincoln will look to regroup and find a winning formula in the coming weeks.