CUP FINAL MATCH REPORT: CHELSEA 2 EVERTON 1
Chelsea are FA Cup winners for a fifth time after a pulsating win at Wembley, coming back from a goal down to beat Everton.
Having fallen inside half a minute, it required goals in either half from Didier Drogba and Frank Lampard to seal the club's first silverware in two years. It was the perfect way to wave goodbye to Guus Hiddink, who has overseen such a fantastic turnaround since his arrival in February.
Celebrations for fans and players will go on long into the night as a long and difficult season ends with a sweet victory, and a fifth Final success from nine attempts.
On the day, a particularly bright and warm spring afternoon, the majority of Hiddink's side picked itself, as it had done for the last few weeks.
His only major decision was whether to employ John Mikel Obi or Michael Ballack alongside Michael Essien in midfield. He opted for the youthful Nigerian, while Nicolas Anelka, the returning Lampard and Malouda provided support to Drogba in attack.
Alex rejoined the backline after sitting out against Sunderland last weekend, at the expense of Branislav Ivanovic who was among the subs.
There were few surprises in the Everton line-up too, as Marouane Fellaini joined goalscorer Louis Saha up front, while Tim Cahill and captain Phil Neville would offer stern opposition to the Chelsea midfield.
The pre-match rituals were conducted in sunshine that had been in place all morning. The heat would have some bearing on the way the sides approached the game.
Everton kicked off and promptly scored the FA Cup Final's fastest ever goal.
Saha lashed home Fellaini's headed knock down inside 25 seconds, breaking Roberto Di Matteo's record from 1997.
Chelsea's defending had been poor but the goal should never have stood, Steven Pienaar was a yard offside before he crossed into the danger area.
Now Chelsea had real work to do. It had been suggested that Everton would be tight and go in search of a 0-0, but now with an advantage to defend, they would be even less adventurous going forwards.
Already Hiddink was out into his technical area, no doubt this hadn't been the start he had imagined for his final game.
Chelsea's early attacking centred around Malouda, who earned a corner that was easily cleared on four minutes, and was then tripped after seven that brought the game's first caution for Everton full-back Tony Hibbert. Lampard wasted the free-kick.
It was 13 minutes before Chelsea registered a shot, Drogba's persistence partially paying off as he laid back to Essien, but the Ghanaian's left-footed shot was always too high to trouble goalkeeper Tim Howard.
The next time we ventured forwards the results would be better.
The equaliser came on 20 minutes, and who else would it be at Wembley but Drogba? Anelka and Lampard combined to spread the ball left to Malouda, who took a touch and crossed into the Everton area.
Drogba, who had so far been well shackled, slipped between central defenders Joseph Yobo and Joleon Lescott and headed hard into the corner, leaving Howard a mere spectator. It was the Ivorian's fourth goal in as many Wembley visits.
Within three minutes things could have been even better, Lampard finding space 30 yards out but shooting just over the bar.
The tension that had been evident at the Chelsea end had now turned to relief; suddenly the Everton support seemed very quiet indeed.
As predicted Everton had sat deep as Chelsea dominated possession in the first two thirds before being greeted by banks of four and five defending Howard's goal. A second goal would require patience but surely a chance would come, as players in blue began to tire of ball-chasing.
Two minutes before the interval an opportunity did arise for Ashley Cole. Fellaini's interception fell favourably for him and he would have been confident of at least hitting the target after netting in the north east last week. But as he bore down from a narrow angle he snatched at the ball and sliced it well wide.
It was a let-off for Everton and particularly Hibbert, who seemed to switch off with Drogba incapacitated, allowing the England left-back in behind.
An Everton corner was cleared without danger and that was it for the first half. Hiddink's final Chelsea team-talk would probably have urged Lampard to be more involved higher up the field, and for his team-mates to supply Malouda who had enjoyed his afternoon so far up against Hibbert.
Typically, David Moyes replaced his ailing right-back, bringing on Lars Jacobsen to marshal the winger instead. It wouldn't have been a huge surprise.
The second half began in scrappy fashion, neither side keeping the ball well, and Neville entering the book for a scissors-styled lunge on Mikel.
Malouda volleyed high and Saha blazed wide as the game took on a more even complexion in the opening quarter-hour of the second half.
Just before the clock ticked over onto 60 minutes, Anelka had a half-chance, lifting the ball up and over Howard but it was slightly too high.
Then came Hiddink's first action, replacing Essien, ineffective by his own high standards, with Ballack in midfield.
Cahill looked to have done himself some damage unleashing a powerful drive straight at Cech, and Mikel became the first Chelsea man booked in a frantic couple of minutes. The game was just starting to open up.
From a free-kick Everton worked the ball wide to Leighton Baines, whose whipped cross picked out Saha in a similar position to where Drogba had scored. Fortunately for Chelsea he headed up and over when he should have tested Cech.
At the other end Malouda skipped past Jacobsen and crossed hard to the near post, where Drogba inadvertently directed the ball past the near post with his chest.
By now we were into the final 20 minutes and still no nearer to finding a winner.
Enter Frank Lampard.
For one normally so central to Chelsea's attacking play, the midfielder had had a very quiet game as he went in search of his 20th goal of the season, and his 100th in five.
When the chance came, on his left foot 25 yards from goal, there was only one outcome. He turned Neville, and after regaining his composure fired hard past Howard, the ball's sheer pace taking it beyond the American's grasp.
His celebration, to run around the corner flag, was in homage to his dad's goal routine after netting for West Ham at the semi-final stage in 1980.
Chelsea were in front with 19 minutes left to defend the lead. It should have been beyond doubt with 15 to go.
Drogba switched to Cole, whose touch and pass inside to Lampard were immaculate. The midfielder picked out Malouda's run and with time and space he could wrap it up, but instead curled over.
Four minutes later Malouda thought he had scored when his powerful effort bounced down off the crossbar towards the line. Drogba appealed, but the game went on, the linesman deciding the ball hadn't crossed. Replays suggested that it had.
It was the Toffees who needed to attack, but having spent so long trying to get the ball, they found it difficult to keep when it came their way, let alone work towards the Chelsea area.
In the final minute of normal time Cahill shot desperately from 30 yards plus, but Cech was unconcerned as it flew wide.
Four minutes of added time were indicated but still Chelsea were in charge. Anelka could have sealed the win but against lifted the ball over the bar, anda fter that there was just time for ref Howard Webb to blow the whistle and signal our fifth FA Cup success, and second in three years.
Cue the celebrations.
Well done lads.
By Andy Jones
Chelsea (4-3-3): Cech; Bosingwa, Alex, Terry (c), A Cole; Essien (Ballack 60), Mikel, Lampard; Anelka, Malouda, Drogba.
Goals Drogba 20, Lampard 71
Booked Mikel 62, Lampard 83
Everton (4-4-1-1): Howard; Hibbert (Jacobsen h-t), Yobo, Lescott, Baines; Osman (Gosling 82), Neville (c), Cahill, Pienaar; Fellaini; Saha (Vaughan 76).
Goals Saha 1
Booked Hibbert 7, Neville 47, Baines 90+3
