Chelsea do the Double
Chelsea created history, when Drogba scored the only goal of the FA cup final to complete the first FA and league double for the club since its inception. The inch perfect free kick from the Ivorian came just before the hour mark, that too in a final, which was not short of surprises. Chelsea hit the woodwork no less than 5 times, and both sides also failed to use a penalty each. How often does that happen?
Chelsea is only the 7th club to achieve a double in the English game. A fantastic winner Drogba, who is also their most prolific scorer at Wembley once again, helped them cling to victory. Drogba scored his 37th goal of the season, and also it was his 7th consecutive appearance at Wembley.
The goal came soon after the penalty miss by Kevin Prince at the other end of the pitch, right then all hopes of Pompy repeating their heroics from 2 years were wiped off.
Frank Lampard who has been Chelsea’s talisman, was also not able to convert his penalty in the closing stages of the match, when his shot went wide, after being brought down in the box by Brown.
The 1 nil win does not tell the whole story, as Chelsea were all over Portsmouth especially in the first half of the match, when Lampard, Salomon Kalou, Terry and Drogba all hit the frame of the goal.
Pompy though had their share of chances, as mentioned earlier the penalty, and Frederic’s effort from close range was well saved just before half time. The win marks a remarkable season for Ancelotti, and Ashley Cole in the process also became the only player to have won 6 F.A cup medals, 4 of which he won while his was with Arsenal.
Portsmouth though made sure that they are there not just to make up the numbers, they showed immense resolve and hunger to win, despite the club being in immense problems due to financial meltdown. Portsmouth FC is going in to administration, and also being relegated to 2nd division. None of that was on their minds on the big day, as they showed they could match the mighty champions stride for stride.
Chelsea have been slaughtering their opponents in recent times, especially the ones who are not in the top 10, Portsmouth certainly can be credited with holding their own, and I don’t know if there is such a thing but it was an honourable loss.
And I for one am a great admirer of the Italian in charge at Stanford bridge, the modest classy man has done himself no harm, by doing a first at Chelsea in his first season, something which will go a long way towards making his own identity at the bridge, rather than being compared to the special one Mourinho.
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