Chelsea Claim FA Cup Glory  (Sky Sports)

Chelsea 2 Everton 1

Chelsea came from behind to win 2-1 at Wembley after Everton's Louis Saha had scored the fastest ever goal in an FA Cup final.

A tight encounter had been forecast after two goalless draws between the teams in the Premier League this season, but it took just 25 seconds for Saha to break the deadlock with a well-struck volley.

It beat Bob Chatt's 1895 mark by five seconds and gave David Moyes' underdogs the perfect start, but Chelsea quickly regained their composure and equalised through a Didier Drogba header on 21 minutes.

The Blues continued to dominate possession for the rest of the first half and nearly went ahead early in the second period when Nicolas Anelka's delicate chip dropped over the crossbar.

There were few clear-cut opportunities but both sides maintained a high tempo in soaring temperatures and the crucial goal arrived after 72 minutes as Frank Lampard crashed a powerful shot past Tim Howard from distance.

The impressive Florent Malouda was unlucky not to get a third Chelsea goal when his fantastic long-range effort hit the crossbar and appeared to bounce over the line, but in the end it mattered little as Everton struggled to apply much pressure in the closing stages.

Chelsea held on comfortably to provide Guus Hiddink with a fitting send-off in his final game in charge, while Everton's wait for a first major piece of silverware since 1995 goes on.

After a pair of tepid semi-finals, the Wembley authorities changed the pitch and their groundsman in the hope of getting something better in place for their showpiece occasion. The reward came after exactly 25 seconds.

If there is a more unlucky player in world football at the moment than Saha, he must get some pretty bad fortune.

During a brief period on loan at Newcastle much earlier in his career, Saha was overlooked for one FA Cup final. Of the three he sat out at Manchester United, he was fit for just one - in 2004, but he was ineligible.

In addition to that, a booking during a brief substitute appearance in the World Cup semi-final in Germany three years ago meant he was suspended for France's eventual defeat by Italy.

So there was a fair bit of venom in his left foot when Marouane Fellaini guided Michael Essien's weak clearance into the former Manchester United man's path. Saha met the ball perfectly, leaving Petr Cech with not a hope of keeping it out.

The Everton supporters, far more noisy than their Chelsea counterparts anyway, erupted in joy, daring to believe this year, as in their last appearance 14 seasons ago, they would leave Wembley as winners.

If there is a downside to scoring quite so early, it is the length of time left to hang on.

Everton did try to keep pushing forward. It was just that they were not allowed to as Chelsea shook off that massive initial disappointment and slowly but purposefully turned the screw.

Tony Hibbert is what is known in the trade as an honest professional. Dedicated to his task, what he lacks in ability, he tries to make up for in effort. Sometimes though, it is not enough.

Booked after eight minutes for a needless ankle tap on Malouda, he was then repeatedly exposed by the French wideman, a clear case of Chelsea targeting an individual within opposition ranks.

More than any other player, Malouda has benefited from working with Hiddink and the Dutchman's departure for Moscow will be keenly felt by the former Lyon man, acquired at the not inconsiderable cost of £13.5million by Jose Mourinho.

Mayhem

And, assisted by Ashley Cole, the pair caused mayhem down the Everton right virtually at will.

Malouda delivered the cross that invited Drogba's powerful finish for the Chelsea equaliser, Cole had the angled drive that should have put them in front.

Before that Malouda had just fired over and with Lampard's dipping effort virtually skimming the Everton crossbar, it was not really a surprise when David Moyes introduced Lars Jacobsen at the break.

The move worked to the extent Chelsea were forced to go infield to make ground, Nicolas Anelka going mightily close with a deft lob.

However, in stemming such an obvious flow of attacks on their goal, Everton found it easier to relieve the pressure and apply some of their own.

Saha went close with virtually their first decent opening since he scored and spirits started to rise again among the Toffees faithful. How quickly they were crushed.

After collecting Anelka's lay-off, Lampard was assisted by a slight slip as he checked inside Phil Neville - allowing him a couple of extra seconds to get a sight of Everton's goal and he duly drilled home from 20 yards.

Chelsea were twice controversially denied a third, first when referee Howard Webb decided Malouda's effort had not crossed the line after crashing back off the bar when TV replays showed it had, then when the official booked Lampard for diving when Stephen Pienaar had stuck out a leg for him to fall over.

It did not matter. Hiddink richly deserved to wave goodbye with a glint of silverware in his eye.

Chelsea	Team Statistics	Everton
2	Goals	1
1	1st Half Goals	1
4	Shots on Target	2
8	Shots off Target	4
3	Blocked Shots	0
5	Corners	1
15	Fouls	18
2	Offsides	3
2	Yellow Cards	3
0	Red Cards	0
81	Passing Success	69.5
15	Tackles	19
86.7	Tackles Success	78.9
60.6	Possession	39.4
54.6	Territorial Advantage	45.4

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Teams

Everton  Howard, Hibbert (Jacobsen 46), Neville, Yobo, Lescott, Baines, Osman (Gosling 82), Fellaini, Pienaar, Cahill, Saha (Vaughan 77)
Subs Not Used Nash, Baxter, Castillo, Rodwell
Booked  Hibbert, Neville, Baines
Goals  Saha 1

Chelsea  Cech, Bosingwa, Alex, A. Cole, Terry, Essien (Ballack 61), Mikel, Lampard, Malouda, Anelka, Drogba
Subs Not Used  Hilario, Belletti, Ivanovic, Mancienne, Kalou, Di Santo
Booked  Mikel, Lampard
Goals  Drogba 21, Lampard 72

Attendance 89,391

Referee H. Webb