by Mark Storey in Edmonton
Steve Cotterill agonised over Pompey’s injury woes as they lifted the Edmonton Cup in Canada.
Keeper Jon Stewart has a suspected broken leg, while Tom Kilbey damaged his knee in the win over FC Edmonton.
Pompey’s boss was proud of the character of his players after they beat their Canadian hosts 5-4 on penalties following a 1-1 draw.
But he now has a job trying to assemble a side for Saturday’s clash in Washington against DC United.
Of the 19 fit players on the tour seven are currently sidelined, with three more, Matt Ritchie, Michael Brown and Stephen Jordan, all nursing knocks from the Edmonton win.
Pompey had used two of their three substitutes after just 13 minutes but fought back from going behind to triumph, with Nadir Ciftci equalising and then scoring the decisive penalty.
The starting line-up included five players who have never played a first-team game back home.
Cotterill said: “All credit to the players that we're getting through it. They’ve been magnificent.
“I looked at us after 60 minutes and I thought we were cooked. They were changing their line-up but we couldn’t. But we stayed in the game.
“I can’t say enough good things about the lads. They’re young boys bonding together.
“Our penalties were immaculate and Liam O'Brien saved one, so we’re pleased with that.
"We saw River Plate’s name on the cup from last year, and now we’re on it, which is nice. We’re pleased to have won it.
"It may not mean anything to people back home, but it’s an achievement I suppose, particularly with the way we won it.
“But it was a costly game with a few more injuries. Jon Stewart may have a fracture, which is a blow for the kid, who is with us on trial. He’s going to be in a cast and on crutches.
“Tom Kilbey’s struggling. He took a whack on his knee. Steve Jordan came off with a sore calf. Michael Brown tweaked his knee in the first half.
“Matt Ritchie played on in the second half when he shouldn’t have played, but we had no more subs.
“We’re down to eleven now if we’re lucky. We may have Tommy Smith and Jamie Ashdown available, but we’re still struggling for a team on Saturday.
“It was a tough game on an artificial pitch. Less than 24 hours after landing here we’ve played 90 minutes. It’s not ideal. The players are fatigued.
“The people over here have been first class. The welcome has been fantastic but there are eight flights and four games in 14 days, flying through different time zones.”