Glen Johnson insisted the stunning Ronaldinho free-kick which helped AC Milan escape from Portsmouth with a 2-2 draw should never have been allowed.

Portsmouth were 2-0 up against Milan with six minutes to go in their UEFA Cup tie when Johnson was ruled to have fouled the Brazilian.

Ronaldinho, who had been sent on as a substitute to rescue what looked like a lost cause for the seven-time European champions, then unleashed an awesome 30-yard blast past goalkeeper David James.

And nearly two minutes into stoppage time Filippo Inzaghi grabbed an equaliser with a clinical finish.

But Johnson insisted: "It was never a foul. I won the ball cleanly but the referee thought otherwise and I hope he sees it again on TV. With Ronaldinho you always fear the worst in a situation like that and there was no way of stopping that free-kick but the boys are gutted. We knew we should have won."

Former Tottenham midfielder Younes Kaboul put the hosts ahead with a thumping header just after the hour and Kanu met Johnson's cross to make it 2-0 with 17 minutes to go.