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Chelsea win FA cup and send Guus off in style

Everton crash down to earth after dream start

By
SETANTA SPORTS,
Published Saturday, May 30, 2009, 12:12 PM
Updated Thursday, July 23, 2009, 5:44 PM

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Didier Drogba heads Chelsea level on 21 minutes
Didier Drogba heads Chelsea level on 21 minutes


Guus Hiddink signed off as Chelsea boss in perfect style, as his charges came from a goal down to beat Everton in the FA Cup final.

With Wembley bathed in sunshine, the Everton fans were out of their seats just 25 seconds in as Louis Saha fired them ahead.

Chelsea regrouped from the setback and Didier Drogba headed them level on 21 minutes.

Hiddink’s charges took a grip on the game after Drogba’s leveller but it took them until 19 minutes from time for Frank Lampard to grab the winner.

The margin of victory could have been greater as the excellent Florent Malouda had a legitimate goal not given, but it mattered little in the end as Chelsea secured their first piece of silverware since their FA Cup success in 2007.

David Moyes had agonised about whether to start with Saha and it took a night of restless sleep to come down in favour of the Frenchman over Jack Rodwell. The decision was vindicated in spectacular style just 25 seconds in as Saha netted the fastest goal in FA Cup final history.

Chelsea had two bites at the cherry to clear but had no answer to Marouane Fellaini who nodded the ball into the path of Saha and he rifled a crisp shot beyond Petr Cech from 16 yards.

Chelsea took some time to settle and a wild free kick and snap-shot that went well over from Michael Essien were their sum efforts in the opening quarter-hour.

Drogba looked extremely frustrated by Chelsea’s slovenly play in the opening 20 minutes, but the Ivorian burst onto the scene in trademark style to level the scores.

Nicolas Anelka and Lampard combined to free Malouda in space on the left flank. The Frenchman produced the kind of cross that Drogba feasts on and he did not disappoint, as he darted in front of Joleon Lescott and planted a header beyond Tim Howard.

Chelsea’s previously anonymous midfield suddenly sprang into life, with Lampard, John Obi Mikel and Michael Essien first to the loose balls. This led Marouane Fellaini, who was the victim of a crude challenge from Essien that somehow escaped censure, and Saha to drop deep in search of the ball, but this caused them more problems as it denied them an outlet ball.

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