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Tony Adams and Patrick Vieira lift
the FA Cup |
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Arsenal |
2-0 |
Chelsea |
Parlour 70
Ljungberg 80 |
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FA Cup Final |
Stunning second half goals from Ray Parlour and Freddie
Ljungberg took Arsenal to the brink of their second Double in five years
as they beat Chelsea 2-0 in the FA Cup final at the Millennium Stadium.
Arsenal had the Cup stolen from their grasp after dominating Liverpool
in last year's final and ironically it was Chelsea who were the better
side for long periods this year.
But Arsenal have proved as they closed in on the title in recent weeks
that they can hold their nerve as the pressure mounts.
The Gunners had barely been out of their own half for the 20 minutes
before Parlour opened the scoring on 70 minutes, soaking up waves of
Chelsea attacks and awaiting their chance.
It came almost from nowhere. Who could blame the Chelsea defence for
backing off as Parlour advanced towards their box - the Englishman has
scored just once all season and would surely look to play in one of his
colleagues.
But Parlour set himself and fired a superb curling drive towards the
top corner from 25 yards, Carlo Cudicini could only tip the ball into the
net and Arsenal had their scarcely-deserved lead.
There was an early scare for Chelsea fans when Jimmy Floyd Hasselbaink
appeared to be limping with the calf injury that had threatened his
participation, but despite rarely carrying his usual menace, the Dutchman
stayed on.
It was 15 minutes before either goal was threatened, Freddie Ljungberg
getting round the back of the Chelsea defence only for Celestine Babayaro
to keep his nerve and clear.
Chelsea's best early chances came from distance but David Seaman was
equal to first Graeme Le Saux's shot - admittedly at the second attempt -
then a more dangerous effort from Frank Lampard.
Neither team seemed prepared to take the game by the scruff of the
neck, but the occasional chance did arise. Bergkamp lifted a free header
over the bar and Lauren did the same under pressure from Le Saux - both
should at least have found the target.
Lauren's miss came on the half hour mark and seemed to prompt Chelsea
to take control of the game. Gudjohnsen almost finished off the best move
of the match but mis-hit his volley from Le Saux's cross, then was
desperately unlucky to be flagged offside when Hasselbaink sent him clear.
It was a similar pattern after the break as Chelsea continued to
dominate, with Jesper Gronkjaer in particular a constant threat on the
right.
Gudjohnsen's dipping drive was well tipped over by Seaman and Le Saux
blasted over in a good position, but the feeling was gathering that
Chelsea would pay for not making their dominance count.
Parlour made sure they did, but after last year's horror show, Arsenal
needed another goal to settle the nerves.
The incomparable Freddie Ljungberg provided it just nine minutes later.
The Swede broke powerfully from halfway, held off the challenge of John
Terry and curled a delightful shot beyond Cudicini. Parlour's strike was
superb, but this was genius.
Ljungberg became the first man for 40 years to score in successive FA
Cup finals, but he admitted afterwards that he had never felt safe until
the final whistle.
Despite a fierce low shot from Gudjohnsen that brought a decent save
from Seaman, he needn't have worried. Chelsea appeared shell-shocked after
such a dramatic reversal of fortunes and played out the last 10 minutes
like shadows.
For Arsenal, the shadow of last year's final has finally been lifted.
The Double, surely, awaits.
Arsenal: Seaman, Lauren,
Campbell, Adams, Cole, Wiltord (Keown 90), Parlour, Vieira, Ljungberg,
Bergkamp (Edu 72), Henry (Kanu 81).
Subs Not Used: Dixon, Wright.
Booked: Vieira, Henry.
Chelsea: Cudicini, Melchiot
(Zenden 76), Gallas, Desailly, Babayaro (Terry 45), Gronkjaer, Lampard,
Petit, Le Saux, Gudjohnsen, Hasselbaink (Zola 68).
Subs Not Used: de Goey, Jokanovic.
Booked: Le Saux, Terry, Gudjohnsen.
Att: 73,963
Ref: M Riley (Leeds). |