Pompey drew 3-3 in their latest pre-season friendly – a contest played over three periods totalling 120 minutes – at Bristol City.
They enjoyed a two-goal interval lead at the Championship side’s impressive Robins High Performance Centre base.
Gassan Ahadme bagged a brace to add to his treble at Havant & Waterlooville, with the second coming from the spot.
However, goals from Andreas Weimann, Kasey Palmer and Chris Martin – the latter converting a penalty – turned the game on its head.
But the Blues levelled in unusual fashion, with Marlee Francois finding the target having been lent to the visitors by Bristol City after an injury to Lee Brown left them a man short.
Pompey started the contest brightly and had two chances to break the deadlock in the opening stages.
Max O’Leary had back-pedal to deal with a long-range attempt from Shaun Williams, while the keeper then dealt with Marcus Harness’ header.
But the deadlock was broken on seven minutes, as AHADME nodded home a Brown cross to add to his recent Hawks treble.
A blow for the visitors soon followed, as Brown – who was named skipper – received a knock and limped from the pitch.
The Robins provided more of an attacking threat as the first half progressed and Martin nodded past the post.
A lengthy drinks break occurred soon after, with the sides taking on some fluids to combat the harsh heat.
A Matty James free-kick caused problems when the action restarted and Alex Bass was able to push the ball away before Williams hacked clear.
Andreas Weimann then had a good opportunity to level the match, but could not keep his shot down.
Instead it was the visitors that netted just before the break, with AHADME converting from the spot after being brought down by George Nurse.
Half Time: Bristol City 0 Pompey 2
Pompey had a chance to extend their lead further following the restart after John Marquis intercepted the ball.
He squared it for Ronan Curtis and the Republic of Ireland international took a couple of chances before getting away a shot that was saved by O’Leary.
And Bristol City immediately reduced their deficit, as Jay Dasilva nodded down for Weimann to drill into the bottom corner.
Pompey looked to hit back immediately and O’Leary got down well to stop Curtis firing a shot inside the keeper’s near post.
That was the cue for Danny Cowley to make a host of changes, with Ellis Harrison, Reeco Hackett Fairchild, Callum Johnson and Haji Mnoga joining six trialists on the pitch.
But the new keeper was soon collecting the ball from his net, as Palmer raced onto a through ball and bent home a fine strike.
There were a couple of half-chances for Harrison in quick succession, as the Blues tried to restore their advantage.
It was the Robins that found themselves ahead, however, as Martin coolly converted a penalty after being fouled inside the area.
After 90 Minutes: Bristol City 3 Pompey 2
Brown’s early injury had left the visitors a man light, so Bristol City substitute Francois appeared for them for the remainder of the game.
And there was the strange sight of seeing the Robins man score against his own club, with FRANCOIS turning home a low delivery from Jayden Reid.
Bristol City looked the more likely to find a winner as the seconds ticked down and a welcome breeze filtered across the training ground, but neither side could strike again.
Bristol City (4-2-3-1): O’Leary (Bentley 90); Vyner (Simpson 90), Baker (Moore 90), Atkinson (Low 90), Nurse (Janneh 62); Bakinson (King 62), James (Nagy 90); Weimann (Pearson 90), Palmer (Benarous 90), Dasilva (Pring 90); Martin (c) (Conway 90)
Goals: Weimann 56, Palmer 65, Martin 77 (pen)
Pompey (4-2-3-1): Bass (Trialist C 62); Freeman (Mnoga 62), Raggett (Johnson 62), Robertson (Trialist D 62), Brown (c) (Trialist B 16 (Francois 90)); Tunnicliffe (Trialist F 62), Williams (Trialist E 62); Harness (Hackett-Fairchild 62), Ahadme (Trialist H 62), Curtis (Reid 62); Marquis (Harrison 62)
Goals: Ahadme 7, 45+4 (pen), Francois 101