Independent:
Drogba reprises his role of Wembley warrior
Chelsea 2 Liverpool 1: Chelsea striker scores in fourth final to win Cup for Blues but Carroll is inches away from unlikely comeback
Steve Tongue
Liverpool, officially the away team here yesterday, produced their wretched Anfield home form for too long before rallying to make a real contest of the FA Cup final. Chelsea, looking worthy winners for an hour or so, ended up hanging on and hugely relieved that Andy Carroll's late header was ruled not to have crossed the line. Two teams who had scored 35 goals between them in reaching Wembley managed only one in a dull first half, from Ramires, before the encounter came to life. Didier Drogba became the first player to score in four finals but Carroll, sent on as a substitute, brought Liverpool into contention by halving the lead and almost equalising.
Midfielders Jay Spearing and Jordan Henderson did not produce enough on the day and Steven Gerrard was strangely deep when his role required him to support Luis Suarez, the lone forward until Carroll appeared just after the hour. Chelsea were comfortable in defence until the later stages and had a warrior's performance from Drogba as usual at Wembley, well supported by the elegant Juan Mata and a hard-working Frank Lampard.
Having denied Liverpool a domestic cup double, they now face the Champions' League final in Munich where they must secure an "away" victory to prevent joining yesterday's opponents in the Europa League next season. Kenny Dalglish's take on yesterday was: "We were excellent for the last half hour but the game lasts 90 minutes. You can't give a two-goal start a team of Chelsea's quality. They're in the Champions' League final and they know how to win games."
His opposite number, Roberto Di Matteo, said: "I'm really happy for the players because we've been heavily criticised this season. They pressed hard in thesecond half but we defended well after scoring two good goals."
Chelsea started more brightly and as Dalglish admitted were the better team for just over an hour, during which they scored twice. Liverpool did not feature as an attacking force before falling behind in the 11th minute, when three of their players were culpable, starting with the local boy Spearing, who lost possession to prompt a swift counter. Mata sent Ramires down the right to outpace Jose Enrique and instead of a chip like the one that stunned Barcelona, the Brazilian went for power at the near post, where Jose Reina was beaten as no experienced goalkeeper should be. Reina has admitted to a poor season and that was one of its least distinguished moments.
There was one threat of reprisals, quickly enough to encourage Liverpool but not built on. Glen Johnson, once of Chelsea, broke down the right and crossed superbly, Branislav Ivanovic headed away only as far as Craig Bellamy, and had to block the fierce shot as the red hordes appealed for handball. Chelsea played the ball around more comfortably, their confidence reflected by both Drogba and Lampard taking on shots from 35 yards. To Reina's relief, each drifted wide. He was grateful too to Martin Skrtel for preventing Salomon Kalou wriggling through to shoot and to Lampard for failing to control Kalou's pass with an errant first touch when he would have been clear.
Liverpool players bringing the ball out of defence tended to look up and see nothing but Suarez and a crop of blue shirts, and the Uruguayan's body language suggested he did not think much of it. Carroll must have been itching to get on from an early stage and there would have been strong temptation for Dalglish to introduce him from the start of the second half, which he resisted until the second goal went in seven minutes after the restart. John Obi Mikel began the move by finding Lampard, who turned away from his marker Spearing and played the ball down the inside left channel for Drogba. Neither Johnson nor Skrtel were close enough to him and the shot with his left foot went through the latter's legs and across Reina low into the far corner.
A much more open game had suddenly broken out and Carroll offered new hope to his side's supporters with a goal. When he received the ball at his feet from Downing as Jose Bosingwa was caught in possession, the big striker fooled Terry and shot high into the net. Cech had to save twice from Suarez and Carroll headed over the bar before meeting a chip from Suarez with another header. As Cech pushed it on to the bar he wheeled away in celebration but television replays suggested the officials had made a correct decision; or at very least the only decision they could on the available evidence. By the time of future Cup finals they may have some technological support at last.
There was still time for the lively Carroll to force one more chance, Terry doing better this time with a characteristic block to ensure he made history by lifting the Cup as captain for the fourth time.
Chelsea (4-2-3-1): Cech; Bosingwa, Ivanovic, Terry, Cole; Mikel, Lampard; Ramires (Meireles, 76), Mata (Malouda, 90), Kalou; Drogba.
Liverpool (4-1-4-1): Reina; Johnson, Skrtel, Agger, Jose Enrique; Spearing (Carroll, 55); Bellamy (Kuyt, 78), Henderson, Gerrard, Downing; Suarez.
Referee Phil Dowd.
Man of the match Mata.
Match rating 7/10.
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Observer:
Didier Drogba seals FA Cup final win for Chelsea against Liverpool
Paul Wilson at Wembley
Chelsea survived a Liverpool fightback to lift the FA Cup for the third time in four years, Andy Carroll's excellent second-half goal setting up a close finish but not quite saving the game. The Liverpool centre-forward thought he had done exactly that with a powerful header from Luis Suárez's cross eight minutes from time that Petr Cech appeared to claw back from across the line, but though the Liverpool bench celebrated prematurely in the manner of Fabio Capello in Bloemfontein, referee Phil Dowd let play continue, correctly as it turned out, since the immediately available replays did not establish that the ball had gone in.
While from Cech's positioning it was possible to suspect it might have, there was no incontrovertible evidence, as was the case with Frank Lampard's disallowed equaliser against Germany. It was more of a goal than the Juan Mata effort that helped Chelsea past Spurs in the semi-final, though not enough of one to be awarded on the desperate pleading of Suárez and Carroll.
Kenny Dalglish, to his credit, did not harp on about the incident afterwards. "If the officials got it right they deserve credit," the Liverpool manager said. "We were excellent in the last half hour but the game lasts for 90 minutes. You can't give a team as good as Chelsea a two-goal start." Roberto Di Matteo, becoming the fourth Chelsea manager to win this trophy in six years, accepted it had been a tense finish. "We played well for the majority of the game and scored two very nice goals, but it got a bit nervy towards the end," he said. "When Carroll came on he caused us some problems."
Carroll was of two sub-plots who did not start. His goal against Everton in the semi-final only earned him a place on the bench, where he was in close proximity to Fernando Torres, who probably expected to be left out against his former club in favour of Didier Drogba and his enviable Wembley scoring record, which, in fairness, the Chelsea striker was able to extend with what turned out to be the winning goal.
After an opening 10 minutes that were cagey even by cup-final standards, the game came to life with a goal before either side had properly constructed a move. Jay Spearing gave the ball away to Mata on halfway and paid a heavy price for his carelessness when the Chelsea forward raced away to supply Ramires, who held off José Enrique with surprising ease to beat Pepe Reina at his near post with a confident early shot. The goalkeeper could perhaps have done better but appeared wrong footed and could not get his hands to the ball, ending up deflecting it into the net off his leg.
Liverpool appeared stunned, and Steven Gerrard was lucky to get away with a scything tackle on Mata before Suárez attempted a shot from the halfway line and missed the target so badly the ball went out for a throw. Liverpool still played quite cautiously after going behind, with Suárez an isolated figure up front and Craig Bellamy not quite functioning as a link between midfield and attack. On the rare occasions they did threaten the Chelsea penalty area, Suárez and Stewart Downing were both guilty of giving the ball away again, and though Gerrard made a couple of typically determined runs he was not in the game enough to exert any sort of control.
A hopeful long shot from Drogba was about the sum of Chelsea's attempts to increase their lead in the first half, which could have ended all square had Suárez been able to take advantage of a sharp chance that came his way from a header by Jordan Henderson. Amusingly, during the interval, the first-half highlights on the big screen featured nothing from Chelsea except the goal that had put them in front. Liverpool featured more often, which was an odd but accurate reflection of an uneventful 45 minutes. Gerrard began the second half with a surging run into the Chelsea area, only to end up on the floor in a vain attempt to win a penalty. Chelsea responded by going straight down the field and snatching another goal with another lightning strike, Drogba scoring his eighth goal at Wembley to keep up his record of scoring on major occasions. The move was a familiar one, though it still seemed to take Liverpool by surprise. Frank Lampard threaded a carefully weighted diagonal pass forward for Drogba to take, turn,
and find Reina's bottom-left corner with a low shot before Martin Skrtel could close him down, not that the defender, with his back to the Chelsea player, managed a particularly good job of attempting to close Drogba down.
Suárez brought a save from Petr Cech as Liverpool tried to hit back, and Dalglish sent on Carroll for Spearing after 55 minutes to beef up their attacking presence. Liverpool chasing the game was exactly what Chelea wanted them to do, and Salomon Kalou should have done better than miss the target after an hour when he had players in support on either side of him. Drogba was in the process of launching an extravagant strike from 30 yards out when Suárez put his foot in the way and brought him down. From the free-kick, Lampard tried his luck from the same distance but shot wide, as did Drogba from closer range on the next Chelsea attack.
Just as it began to look as if Chelsea would be able to increase their lead at will, Liverpool made a game of it with a fine goal from their much-maligned substitute. Carroll's goal was much better than the one he scored in the semi-final; in fact he finished with such conviction he almost made his £35m fee look reasonable. Controlling the ball in the area then sending John Terry first one way then the other, the centre-forward made space for a shot with his left foot and crashed the ball past Cech from a narrow angle. Dalglish's side enjoyed their best spell after that, playing with real self-belief and managing to bring Bellamy more into the game, though when Gerrard galloped onto a Carroll knockdown and attempted what would have been the most spectacular of equalisers, he could not keep his shot down and the ball nearly ended up in Wembley's second tier.
Chelsea were suddenly having to do all the defending, as Suárez saw a shot tipped round a post and Carroll headed over, and at least a game that had failed to produce any excitement in the first half had turned into an absorbing contest. Carroll's goal-line controversy added further spice to the mix, and the Liverpool substitute came closer than anyone to taking the game into extra-time in the closing seconds, when it took a terrific block from Terry to stop his goal-bound shot. On this evidence, Carroll might not just be worth £35m, he might be worth a whole game.
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Telegraph:
Chelsea 2 Liverpool 1
By Duncan White, Wembley Stadium
It was the moment Liverpool had dragged themselves back into a game that they had all but lost. Luis Suarez crossed from the right and Andy Carroll met it with a firm header. Carroll ran off in celebration, Kenny Dalglish leapt up and punched the air. Liverpool were level. Only they weren’t.
The cheers from the red end suddenly went stereo as the blue half realised what was happening; referee Phil Dowd had not given the goal.
It had not crossed the line. Liverpool’s players were in disbelief and Dalglish seemed to indicate it had gone about three feet over. It was much closer than that.
Replays could not clarify if the whole ball had crossed the line. One thing was sure: Petr Cech had done superbly to push the ball up on to the bar and create the doubt in Dowd’s mind. It was only from the over-head camera that it looked like the ball might have gone far enough.
In the semi-finals Chelsea had been credited with a goal that did not cross the line, in the final it looked like they had been spared one that had.
Chelsea were relieved. They had dominated this game for over an hour and then nearly thrown it away as Liverpool belatedly awakened.
Ramires had punished Liverpool’s early mistakes and then Didier Drogba had scored his eighth Wembley goal, becoming the first player to score in four different FA Cup finals. Roberto di Matteo made history in becoming the last player to score in the FA Cup at the old Wembley; Drogba tightened his grip on the new.
The game ended frantically but it had begun almost sedately. Then, with 11 minutes played, Chelsea pounced. Jay Spearing gave away the ball in midfield and Juan Mata was on to it. The Spain midfielder rolled the ball out to Ramires on the right and Enrique was caught between going in for the challenge and holding off. Ramires slipped past him and his acceleration left the Liverpool left-back in his wake.
Pepe Reina should not have been left so easily exposed but the Liverpool goalkeeper should have offered greater resistance. He seemed to anticipate Ramires shooting across him towards the far corner and, off balance, could only deflect the Brazilian’s shot in at the near post.
He pounded the turf in anger as Ramires wheeled away in celebration.
Liverpool sought a response. Glen Johnson twisted and turned on the right before putting in an excellent low cross which Branislav Ivanovic had to dive low to head clear. The Serb sprang back to his feet and blocked Craig Bellamy’s volleyed follow up.
That attack aside, the Chelsea defence were barely troubled for much of the first half. Liverpool were being suffocated by Di Matteo’s team in midfield and, under that pressure, started misplacing passes and falling out of sync, with huge gaps opening between the lines and Suarez isolated up front. Liverpool needed Gerrard in the game but Chelsea’s players were not making it easy.
Chelsea began to dominate. Ramires and Salmon Kalou were full of confidence, running with the ball at their feet while Liverpool’s midfielders were struggling to track the movement of Mata, playing centrally.
Kalou almost put Lampard through and then had the Liverpool defence backtracking as he went dribbling into the area. Drogba, full of confidence, was shooting on sight.
The urgency to close down Gerrard went too far as half-time approached, when John Obi Mikel went in late on the Liverpool captain, his studs catching Gerrard’s boot after he had struck the ball. Phil Dowd, after making sure Gerrard was not injured, booked Chelsea’s holding midfielder. Dan Agger followed Mikel into the book shortly after, clumsily sliding into the Chelsea player after the ball had gone.
There were some flickers of improvement from Dalglish’s side as half-time approached – Stewart Downing and Craig Bellamy put in crosses that required astute defending – but Liverpool needed to find substantial improvement in the second half. It came in the game's final third but by then it was too late.
There was momentary optimism they could get back into it quickly – Gerrard went surging forward, past two men and into the Chelsea box, where he crashed into Ivanovic. Was he obstructed? Or did he simply run into the Chelsea defender? Dowd took the latter view. Moments later, the game looked out of Liverpool’s reach.
Lampard span away from Spearing and fired the ball into Drogba’s feet. The Chelsea striker controlled with his right, let the ball run out of his feet and then shot low with his left foot through Martin Skrtel’s legs and into the far corner. It was a superb clinical finish and Drogba celebrated with gusto.
Chelsea were full of confidence now. Kalou curled one shot over after a fine series of passes and then Lampard hit a cross field pass, Mata juggled and passed to Drogba, whose volleyed smashed into the side-netting.
Liverpool were floundering and needed a change – Dalglish sent on Andy Carroll for Spearing and switched to a more aggressive 4-4-2 and then with one moment, the whole complexion of the game changed. Liverpool were making progress down the left but it looked like Jose Bosingwa would clear. Downing got his boot in, though, and the ball flew straight to Carroll.
The big Liverpool No 9 completely wrong-footed Terry with a sort-of step-over, bringing the ball back on to his left foot and thumping it high into the net, the speed of the ball giving Cech no chance.
Liverpool were enlivened, Carroll was a menace and Chelsea were on the back foot. Carroll had a two chances to head an equaliser; Suarez cut inside from the left along the edge of the box and forced Cech to push his low shot behind.
Then came the controversial moment. Liverpool fuelled by their sense of injustice, piled the pressure on. Only a brilliant last-ditch tackle from Terry stopped Carroll scoring from close range. Chelsea were clinging on but they have become rather expert in rearguard actions and they made it to the final whistle.
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Mail:
Chelsea 2 Liverpool 1: Cup warrior Drogba the king of Wembley
By Rob Draper
At the end they embraced like champions, those old warriors of Chelsea, and bounced up and down in a circle like excited children in familiar fashion.
Chelsea are again FA Cup winners and a season that seemed to be disappearing into the abyss is ending in silverware.
The ultimate dream of owner Roman Abramovich may yet follow in Munich. But for now the team and, in particular Roberto di Matteo, a manager who surely deserves a title more exalted than caretaker, should glory in their remarkable turnaround.
For Chelsea, out of sorts for so long this season, this was a return to normality. They have virtually appropriated this famous old trophy in recent years with four victories since 2007.
All around records were tumbling: it was Ashley Cole’s seventh FA Cup win, Didier Drogba’s fourth FA Cup final goal and the fourth time captain John Terry has lifted that cup.
And yet Chelsea’s celebrations were infused with a degree of relief, and not just because an 82nd-minute header from Andy Carroll briefly seemed to have brought the score back to 2-2.
For more than an hour they utterly dominated before a 64th-minute goal from substitute Carroll changed everything.
Liverpool, who had been sleepwalking to defeat, were suddenly galvanised and Chelsea, previously untroubled, spent the rest of the game in survival mode. And when Carroll headed goalwards on 82 minutes, it seemed extra-time beckoned as he wheeled away in celebration. Mercifully, a goalline controversy was settled correctly, but it was still an almighty scare for Chelsea.
For Di Matteo, who twice scored goals at the old Wembley to win Chelsea the Cup, Saturday was a vindication whatever an uncertain future holds.
‘We’ve had a difficult season and a lot of criticism, but the players responded to all the adversity we’ve faced,’ he said. ‘We’ve been heavily criticised but we’ve got the trophy and have the chance for another one. It’s been difficult but the players have made the club proud.’
For Liverpool there can be only regrets. Not over that decision, but their performance. What if they had competed from the off? What if they had shown similar spirit for the opening hour? Questions manager Kenny Dalglish will no doubt have to answer when they are posed by the club’s American owners.
‘They were excellent for the last half-hour, but the game lasts for 90 minutes,’ said Dalglish. ‘With a team of the quality of Chelsea, you can’t give them a two-goal head start. Maybe we were nervous. A lot of them were youngsters. Chelsea are thoroughbreds who’ve been through the course before us. We cannot lose two goals in the fashion we did and expect to walk away winning.’
The first goal defined the game. Juan Mata, whose slightest movement can quicken the heart, was given an unforgiveable amount of space and his delivery to Ramires was immaculate. The Brazilian shrugged off the inadequate challenge of Jose Enrique, Daniel Agger chased in desperation and Ramires shot past Pepe Reina. It was a soft goal. Always underdogs, Liverpool’s task was now considerably harder.
Other than a Craig Bellamy strike blocked by Branislav Ivanovic, there was nothing. Frank Lampard and John Obi Mikel were the midfield alpha males, although there was a brief show of spirit from Liverpool after half-time. Their hopes lasted a mere seven minutes.
On 52 minutes Lampard skipped past Jay Spearing, who had an educational afternoon, and drove the ball into Drogba, who instinctively headed goalwards. With Martin Skrtel closing him down, the Ivorian drove the ball through his legs into the far corner. Salomon Kalou, Lampard and Drogba then went close and for Liverpool it seemed over.
Carroll came on shortly after the second but it seemed desperate, before a single moment transformed the occasion. Jose Bosingwa dwelt inexplicably on the ball as Stewart Downing robbed him and crossed for Carroll. Panic ensued, as Carroll turned Terry one way, then the other, before driving into the net.
Wembley was suddenly alive, as were Liverpool. While not quite Istanbul, something remarkable transpired. Liverpool, led by Carroll, were a compelling force. Steven Gerrard wrestled the midfield from Lampard and played in Glen Johnson, who put Luis Suarez into the box.
The Uruguayan dinked a magnificent ball on to the head of Carroll, who met it four yards out and raced away prematurely in celebration. Petr Cech had got a touch to divert it on to the bar. Briefly, it seemed as if the ball had crossed the line and assistant Andy Garratt was besieged, but he held firm and rightly so.
Terry was required to block a Carroll strike in injury-time as Liverpool were roared on to the end. But the moment had passed. Chelsea had survived. And for now those old warriors can celebrate, whatever the future holds.
MATCH FACTS
Chelsea: Cech, Bosingwa, Ivanovic, Terry, Cole, Ramires (Meireles 76), Mikel, Lampard, Kalou, Drogba, Mata (Sturridge 90).
Subs not used: Turnbull, Essien, Torres, Malouda, Ferreira.
Goals: Ramires 11, Drogba 52.
Booked: Mikel
Liverpool: Reina, Johnson, Skrtel, Agger, Jose Enrique, Spearing (Carroll 55), Henderson, Downing, Gerrard, Bellamy (Kuyt 78), Suarez.
Subs not used: Doni, Maxi, Carragher, Shelvey, Kelly.
Goal: Carroll 64
Booked: Agger, Suarez
Referee: Phil Dowd (Staffordshire)
Att: 89,102
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Mirror:
Chelsea 2-1 Liverpool: Ramires and Drogba fire the Blues to FA Cup glory
Andy Carroll pulled one back for the Reds in the second half and thought he had another before it was ruled not to have crossed the line
Chelsea won their fourth FA Cup in six seasons today as they held off a Liverpool fightback and avoided another 'ghost' goal to triumph again at Wembley.
Didier Drogba became the first man to score in four cup finals, John Terry became the first captain to lift the cup four times at the home of football and Ramires became the first Brazilian to net in a cup final as caretaker manager Roberto Di Matteo maintained his remarkable record in major finals to boost his own job prospects.
Andy Carroll came off the bench to set up a grandstand finish and thought he had equalised late on, but the officials appeared to correctly deem Petr Cech had kept his header out and Chelsea held on.
Both sides - who had squared off countless times in league and cup in recent years - took to the field looking to make history today.
John Terry was aiming to become the first captain to lift the FA Cup four times at Wembley, a ground where caretaker manager Roberto Di Matteo had never lost in competitive matches as a player or manager.
Liverpool were trying to become the first club to win the competition in six successive decades, with boss Kenny Dalglish having never lost against the Blues in 13 meetings in his two spells in charge.
So, something had to give in a game that looked set to have serious ramifications for both managers' hopes of keeping their jobs.
Liverpool already had the Carling Cup in the bag, while Chelsea had the Champions League final to look forward to, but both clubs' Barclays Premier League seasons had been simply unacceptable.
Other than a wayward Drogba half-volley, there was little to recommend the opening exchanges until Liverpool conceded a truly horrible goal from their point of view in the 11th minute.
Chelsea broke from their own area and Juan Mata released the onrushing Ramires, who too easily shrugged off Jose Enrique and fired a near-post shot that Reina should have saved but embarrassingly helped into the net.
More poor defending almost gifted Liverpool a quickfire equaliser, Branislav Ivanovic clearing Glen Johnson's cross straight to Bellamy, whose first-time shot was blocked by Terry.
Reina was left red-faced again after failing to gather a mishit Ramires cross, while Lampard was let down by a heavy touch on the edge of the box.
Chelsea were in cruise control, with Salomon Kalou almost slaloming his way through on goal, although an Agger burst forward briefly exposed their defence.
Di Matteo's men were posing marginally the greater threat as the half wore on but they rightly picked up the game's first yellow card eight minutes from half-time when John Obi Mikel dived in on Gerrard on halfway.
Drogba flashed well wide from 30 yards trying to become the first man to score in four cup finals, while Luis Suarez - who had hardly been in the game - failed to get a proper header on Jordan Henderson's flick-on.
Agger followed Mikel into the book in the final minute of the half after upending the midfielder.
Liverpool needed to change something in midfield and it was formation rather than personnel at the restart as they went 4-4-2.
But they were almost immediately undone by a Cole dart forward, with Agger coming to the rescue.
Terry also hooked over from a corner after being manhandled by Martin Skrtel before Gerrard tried to inject some inspiration with a trademark surge only to run into the back of Ivanovic.
Moments later, Chelsea doubled their lead in the 52nd minute, Lampard turning Jay Spearing and finding Drogba.
Skrtel's non-challenge was risible as Drogba fired left-footed through the Slovakian's legs and into the net.
Petr Cech was finally forced into a save when Suarez tried his luck from a tight angle before Dalglish sent on semi-final hero Carroll for Spearing.
But although Chelsea threatened to punish them further on the break, the change paid off thanks to more poor defending in the 64th minute.
Jose Bosingwa allowed himself to be tackled by Stewart Downing, with the ball breaking to Carroll, who turned Terry inside out before lashing home.
Liverpool were suddenly on top and Henderson, Johnson and Gerrard all had wild strikes from distance.
Suarez was also having more and more of an impact and Cech got down well to tip his near-post effort wide, while Carroll twice got underneath headers as he threatened to rescue Liverpool from defeat.
Chelsea responded 13 minutes from time by sending on Raul Meireles for Ramires, with Liverpool throwing on Dirk Kuyt for Bellamy.
That happened while Drogba went down seemingly hurt, much to the ire of the Liverpool fans.
Bosingwa was threatening to single-handedly surrender the cup for Chelsea as Henderson blazed over again from 20 yards.
Incredibly, with less than nine minutes remaining, there was another incident to rival the 'ghost' goals both sides had scored in previous matches when Carroll thought he had headed in Suarez's cross.
Carroll and Suarez were adamant it should have been given but replays appeared to show Cech had produced one of the best-ever cup final saves to turn the ball onto the crossbar to keep it out.
Skrtel then looked certain to equalise when he found himself in acres of space but Ivanovic recovered to block.
With Liverpool laying siege to the Chelsea goal, Di Matteo withdrew Mata for Florent Malouda in stoppage-time and Lampard went close to sealing it with a free-kick.
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Sun:
Chelsea 2 Liverpool 1
By PAUL SMITH
CHELSEA racked up the records as they turned Wembley into wonderland.
John Terry, Didier Drogba, Ashley Cole and Blues boss Roberto Di Matteo set personal milestones and broke Liverpool hearts.
- Skipper Terry is the first player to lift the FA Cup on four separate occasions for one club.
- Drogba is the first to score in four different FA Cup finals.
- Cole is the first to win seven winner’s medals.
- And Di Matteo is the first to score for and manage a winning FA Cup team.
Terry gave a rousing speech to his troops prior to Chelsea leaving for Wembley, calling on them to take the first step to glory in a two-week period that will define their season.
Silverware has eluded them in the league.
Andre Villas-Boas lost the hotseat before he had a chance to get comfortable.
But victory in the FA Cup and Champions League final would leave the Blues to reflect on success rather than disappointment in a campaign that threatened to implode. For Liverpool, who have under-performed atrociously in the league, knockout competitions have been their salvation following victory in the Carling Cup in February.
And Kop boss Kenny Dalglish was taking no gambles as he started semi-final hero Andy Carroll on the bench and played Craig Bellamy off Luis Suarez.
Fernando Torres paved the way for Carroll’s £35million switch to Anfield.
But despite being in the best form of his Chelsea career, the Spaniard also missed out on a first XI place. Drogba got the nod — and with his finals record you can hardly blame Di Matteo.
The Blues started the brighter, dictating the pace and showing early signs it could be a torrid afternoon for Liverpool.
It took them 11 minutes to break the deadlock.
And it was Ramires — the man whose goal inspired the Blues’ miraculous Champions League comeback at Barcelona — who came up with the opener.
The Brazilian is fast becoming a Stamford Bridge legend with these important strikes.
Ramires, suspended for the Champions League final after his booking at the Nou Camp, raced through on goal from Juan Mata’s pass to fire home.
In truth, Pepe Reina was at fault as he had been for the two opening West Ham goals in the final staged at Cardiff’s Millennium Stadium in 2006.
You suspected, with the momentum, Chelsea would look to press home their advantage.
But for some reason they seemed content to allow Liverpool back into the game, although they did not threaten Petr Cech’s goal.
The Reds closed the half on top as they continued to show signs of improvement.
RDM’s men looked the better side again following the interval.
And in a two-minute period, controversy erupted at both ends of the pitch.
Martin Skrtel appeared to commit GBH on Terry and then Liverpool captain Steven Gerrard was blocked by Branislav Ivanovic in the box.
But seven minutes into the half Chelsea took a commanding grip on the game as Drogba kept up his impressive record of scoring in every Chelsea domestic cup final he has played.
Frank Lampard made a complete mug of Jay Spearing as he turned and left him for dead before threading a pass through to the Ivory Coast striker who finished clinically.
That is eight goals in seven FA Cup and Carling Cup finals, including those staged in Cardiff.
It was no coincidence Dalglish dragged Spearing off and replaced him with Carroll moments later.
Liverpool grabbed a lifeline as Carroll marked his appearance with an impressive goal. Stewart Downing dispossessed Jose Bosingwa before playing the ball into the towering striker.
But just as Lampard had embarrassed Spearing, Carroll did the same to Terry as he turned one way then another before firing the ball into the roof of the net.
For the first time in the game Chelsea came under enormous pressure.
Liverpool, stifled for so long, were suddenly finding the wind in their sails and they were intent on firing crosses into the Chelsea box to utilise Carroll’s aerial strength.
Then came the controversy as Suarez crossed from the right and Carroll rose to seemingly head Liverpool level.
But as the former Newcastle striker wheeled away in celebration the game continued as Cech was ruled to have clawed the ball from underneath his bar.
The Liverpool players, particularly Suarez and Carroll, erupted in fury but TV replays appeared to prove inconclusive.
Carroll should have buried it — then there would be no need for debate.
Liverpool came again and when Gerrard was put through he attempted to play it back into the path of Suarez when it seemed easier to shoot.
It did not detract from the fact Chelsea were hanging on for their lives in five minutes of injury time — although the Blues had chances to finish the final off as the Reds threw numbers forward.
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Express:
CHELSEA 2 - LIVERPOOL 1: MIDAS MAN DIDIER DROGBA'S GOLDEN STRIKE
By John Richardson
DIDIER DROGBA, the man with the Wembley Midas touch, helped ensure part one of Chelsea’s anticipated Cup double was successfully completed.
With Drogba around there is no need for the club to switch to Battersea. He provides the power and the glory on big days at the home of football.
The Ivory Coast international has scored every time he has set foot on the famous turf in competitive games.
His clinical second-half finish was his eighth here and helped propel Chelsea to their fourth FA Cup triumph in six years.
Now it’s full steam ahead to Munich in 13 days time as Chelsea look to land the Champions League for the first time in their history. Maybe Drogba should take some Wembley turf with him to the Allianz Arena.
They might like to also import the goal frame which somehow withstood Liverpool’s late ferocious assault sparked by Andy Carroll reducing Chelsea’s two-goal advantage earned by Ramires and the human wrecking ball which is Drogba.
Eight minutes from time Luis Suarez crossed for Carroll, chained to the substitutes’ bench for 55 agonising minutes in which Liverpool had spluttered like a misfiring Bentley – perhaps more accurately a Skoda – to launch himself.
The fierce header was somehow palmed against the underside of the bar by Petr Cech while Carroll went to celebrate with the Liverpool fans.
Chelsea still believe they were robbed in the Jose Mourinho era by a Luis Garcia ‘ghost goal’ which cost them a place in the Champions League final at Liverpool’s expense.
Liverpool will swear for years to come that this was pay back time, the officials decreeing it hadn’t crossed the line. So Chelsea survived and it enabled joyous manager Roberto Di Matteo to complete a remarkable Italian job. He became the third successive Italian to lead his side to FA Cup final success following in the footsteps of Carlo Ancelotti with Chelsea in 2010 and Roberto Mancini with Manchester City last May.
During the frenzied celebrations which proved that it’s medals and trophies rather than fourth place in the Premier League that counts, at least for the players, Di Matteo was catapulted into the air by skipper John Terry and company.
Eventually Drogba cuddled the gleaming trophy in the goalmouth to the delight of the photographers.
If it proves to be his Wembley farewell it was some send-off from a man who clearly believes this part of London is his own personal manor.
Within 12 minutes Chelsea had been celebrating the first goal as Liverpool malfunctioned in three vital areas. First Jay Spearing surrendered possession in the heart of midfield allowing Juan Mata to send Stamford Bridge roadrunner Ramires racing towards goal.
Jose Enrique was too easily shrugged aside and Pepe Reina joined the Anfield rogues gallery when he misjudged the Brazilian’s low strike and to his horror it squirmed past him to leave Chelsea believing they can do no wrong in this famous theatre. It might not have contained the same quality as his wonder goal against Barcelona at the Nou Camp but it served up the same energising qualities.
Liverpool’s reply was swift and almost as devastating, Glen Johnson whipping in a cross which Branislav Ivanovic did well to head away from goal but only as far as Craig Bellamy who instantly smashed it back – straight into Ivanovic’s body.
The two moments with contrasting outcomes seemed to deflate Kenny Dalglish’s side who had begun the game in the knowledge that they had won their last four matches against the Londoners.
Liverpool had been so ineffective in the opening 45 minutes that Terry and his fellow defenders could have turned out in carpet slippers. You imagined it wouldn’t be too long before Dalglish shook up his side with the benched Carroll. By then Liverpool were 2-0 down through Wembley’s executioner in chief.
Why did Liverpool allow him so much time and space from Frank Lampard’s perfect ball to control and steer left-footed into the corner of the net past Reina? This time Reina was blameless – his fellow defenders couldn’t claim the same.
Chelsea could have been out of sight with Salomon Kalou chipping past the post, Lampard going close with a free-kick and Drogba blasting into the side-netting.
Seemingly out of nowhere the giant Geordie grabbed a lifeline.
A Suarez challenge saw the ball rebound to Carroll inside the box but there was still plenty to do for the £35 million man. He responded by turning Terry inside out before exploding his shot into the roof of the net.
Suddenly Chelsea were looking uncertain and Cech had to scramble a Suarez effort around the post. But somehow extra-time was avoided.
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Star:
CHELSEA 2 - LIVERPOOL 1: BRILLIANT BLUES BOSS SEALS PLACE IN FA CUP HALL OF FAME
Roberto has done a great job since he took over as interim head coach and the way they have turned it around is a great credit to everybody at Chelsea
By Steve Millar
THEY stood a couple of feet apart, divided by their colours, united in history.
Kenny Dalglish in the red corner, track-suited, boots on once golden feet and kept warm by a grey insulated jacket you’d wear on a ramble.
In the blue corner, Roberto Di Matteo, all suited and booted, looking ready for a night out and a slap-up meal in the West End.
And well he might, after joining Dalglish in the hall of fame of those who have won the FA Cup as both a player and a manager with the same club – joining George Graham and Terry Venables in the process.
Two famous Scots, an Englishman and now an Italian, born in the Swiss outpost of Schaffhausen.
And noone deserves the recognition more than Di Matteo, as his Chelsea side finally killed-off Liverpool to win the 131st FA Cup Final – even though Andy Carroll claimed an 81st-minute headed “equaliser” was over the line.
It was a real scare for Chelsea and a major worry for Di Matteo.
But after a dramatic second half dominated by a Liverpool fightback, the FA Cup was wrapped in blue ribbon.
Now, bring on the Champions League Final for Di Matteo a week on Saturday in Munich, when an incredible, amazing, outlandish cup double could be written in the stars.
But long before then, in the days of celebration following the demise of Dalglish and Liverpool, surely owner Roman Abramovich has some soul-searching to do.
He needs to ask himself why he’s been so slow to come forward and offer Di Matteo the Chelsea job on a permanent basis, instead of him being referred to as a derisory interim manager.
Get the contract out now Roman – and give this man the credit for turning around a Chelsea season that was going up in as much smoke as the Battersea Power Station the Russian billionaire is thinking of buying.
Even defeated rival Dalglish acknowledged the importance of Di Matteo, to the club he faced in the 99th game at Wembley in the five years since the famous venue re-opened.
He said: “Roberto has done a great job since he took over as interim head coach and the way they have turned it around is a great credit to everybody at Chelsea.”
Di Matteo inspired the Blues to a flying start, which saw them burst into a two-goal lead before the hour was out – Ramires and Didier Drogba doing the damage.
Chelsea’s aristocrats floated across the hallowed turf with the same ease as the Goodyear blimp flying above the Wembley arch.
Drogba, Frank Lampard and Juan Mata were highly influential in inspiring Chelsea’s dream start, with John Terry and Branislav Ivanovic rocks at the back.
The first goal was another case of ‘Reina-drops keep falling on his head’, the day after Pepe held up his usually safe hands to admit he’s not had the best of seasons.
He thumped the pitch in anger as he allowed Ramires’ 11th-minute shot of no consequence to sneak past him.
Liverpool looked anything but likely to add the FA Cup to the Carling Cup, in a season where loyal supporters have been angered by their failure to command a Champions League spot.
Every time they got the ball their fans urged them on into Chelsea’s area in a passionate push for a semblance of pride.
Ironically, Liverpool’s most vilified player in this season of disappointment, Carroll, gave his battered club a lifeline in the 64th minute – nine minutes after coming off the bench to answer his manager’s SOS.
Carroll was immediately handed hero status in front of his own faithful and suddenly a game which had got away from Liverpool was back on.
His late header provoked more screams for goal-line technology – although in this case the naked eye was good enough to spy “no goal”.
An equaliser then would have been fitting reward for the brave way Liverpool woke from their slumber.
The end story, though, was of Chelsea captain, Terry, climbing those steps of honour to lift the FA Cup – and Di Matteo winning his place in the history books.
The Chelsea boss’s dance and jig on to the pitch at the final whistle told its own incredible story.
Di Matteo is on a roll.
