He showed nerves of steel to fire the fifth and final kick past Sunderland keeper Jon McLaughlin.
Aiden McGeady had fired Sunderland into a 38th-minute lead, which they thoroughly deserved after a commanding first-half performance.
But Pompey were brilliant in the second half – while the Black Cats went strangely passive – and roared back with a leveller from Nathan Thompson with eight minute left.
The game moved into extra time.
And then the South Coast club – FA Cup winners in 2008 – looked to have won it when Jamal Lowe lobbed a brilliant goal with six minutes left.
Yet there was still time for McGeady to punish hesitant Pompey defending.
Lowe almost snatched victory, though, but he mis-kicked from just six yards out.
And it was left to Hawkins to steal the glory with the decisive penalty.
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