Goals from Stephen Hunt and Dave Kitson actually cancelled out Benjani's first-half double but Steve Coppell's side were soon buried under an avalanche of replies.

Hermann Hreidarsson headed Pompey back ahead, Benjani's third was followed by a fine strike from Nico Kranjcar and, after substitute Shane Long had pulled one back for Reading, Sean Davis netted a long-rang shot before Sulley Muntari made it 7-3 from the spot. Nicky Shorey had the last word with a fourth for the visitors.

Benjani opened the scoring after just seven minutes.

James Harper had lost the ball to Papa Bouba Diop and Benjani, having sent John Utaka into a crossing position on the left, completed the move by dispatching his colleague's delivery to the back post from close range. He added his second in the 37th minute, outpacing Shorey and Ivar Ingimarsson before scoring with a well-placed drive.

Hunt pulled one back before the break with a close-range header and Kitson put Reading level just after the break, scoring from a tight angle after reaching Hunt's pass before keeper David James.

Pompey reacted strongly and took the lead again through Hreidarsson 55thminute header. James then made amends for his earlier error by saving Shorey's penalty after Diop had handled and Benjani made sure of the win with a fine solo effort 20 minutes from time.

Kranjcar made it 5-2 with a headed conversion of a Davis cross but Long's reply . . . a deflection of a Harper shot with 10 minutes remaining . . .was quickly followed by Pompey's sixth from Davis.

Muntari scored the seventh from the spot in stoppage time after Kranjcar had been fouled by Rosenior, and Shorey fired home a deflected effort just before the final whistle ended the mayhem.