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.
SUCKS APPEAL ... Ramires enjoys his early goal
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.
FIERCE DROG ... Didier Drogba sees his firm shot double Chelsea's lead
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.
LEAP CHEER ... Chelsea hail second scorer Drogba
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.
ANDY FINISH ... sub Carroll lashes Liverpool back into it
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.
CECH THIS OUT ... Andy Carroll heads the 'goal' that would have been an equaliser
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.
p.smith@the-sun.co.uk
FALSE HOPE ... Andy Carroll celebrates his non-goal
DREAM TEAM
STAR MAN — DIDIER DROGBA (CHELSEA)
CHELSEA: Cech 8, Bosingwa 5, Ivanovic 6, Terry 6, Cole 7, Ramires 7
(Meireles 5), Mikel 6, Lampard 7, Kalou 6, Drogba 9, Mata 7 (Malouda 4).
Subs not used: Turnbull, Essien, Torres, Ferreira, Sturridge. Booked: Mikel.
LIVERPOOL: Reina 5, Johnson 6, Skrtel 6, Agger 5, Jose Enrique 4,
Spearing 4 (Carroll 7), Henderson 6, Downing 6, Gerrard 7, Bellamy 6 (Kuyt
5), Suarez 6. Subs not used: Doni, Maxi, Carragher, Shelvey, Kelly. Booked:
Agger, Suarez. REF: P Dowd 7
