FA Cup, Matches - Written by BlueChampion on Saturday, May 19, 2007 20:31 | 4,445 Views | 37 Comments | Add Comment
FA Cup Finals: Chelsea 1-0 Man Utd: Last Laugh And All That!
After all, this has ended up as a good season! Two trophies, runner-up in the league and semifinalists in the champions league. Quite a few milestones in this season - unbeaten in home league matches for three seasons, won all English trophies in a span of three seasons, sixth trophy in three seasons, first English team to win in Estadio Mestalla, first FA cup win in new Wembley stadium . . . you can add more.
Chelsea wanted to win this for various reasons: (i) only trophy yet to be won by Jose (ii) a sweet revenge (iii) for pride (iv) to end on a positive note (v) just to win. Man Utd had their eyes on the league double. For them to achieve a league double during these periods of Chelsea domination, would have been some achievement. Most of us were expecting a cracking final. Certainly it was, but not until the end of the first half.
Not very surprisingly, both teams started out very quietly, playing not-so-enterprising football. It was evident that neither team wanted to concede an early goal at any cost. In a match between the two best English teams, the first shot on target came on 31 minutes (from Lampard). This explains better. Though it was quiet for long periods of time, Chelsea was easily the better team in the first half showing more hunger and passion. The highlight of the first half was how Paulo contained Ronaldo. The player of the season, who has been a constant goal threat all season, was almost anonymous. Credit to Paulo for showing what he’s really worth. With the way Diarra was going, I never thought Paulo would snatch it back from him.
Man Utd, expectedly, upped the tempo in the second half. Rooney played a great game for Man Utd. But for some brilliant tackles by Essien and super saves by Cech, he would have surely scored and would have thoroughly deserved his goal. While Essien was making those crunching tackles, his midfielder instincts did show up occasionally and also made some errors that you would not expect from Ricardo. At the end of the second half, honours were even, with Chelsea being slightly better on statistics. It was anybody’s match. Even if Man Utd had won in 90 minutes, I could not have complained.
I did not want this game to go to penalties. Not that the bad memories of the recent sudden death made me think so. I just did not want this great game to be decided by spot flukes. While Chelsea appeared to be tiring fast, it was still clear that they badly wanted to win this trophy, may be more than Man Utd. This game was dominated by the Chelsea midfield of Lampard, Mikel and Maka. They all played superbly and you could see what a well-rested Lampard could offer. Mikel once again played a very pivotal role in the midfield and makes me wonder once again why his name was not considered for the ‘young player of the year’.
Two other players who impressed me in this match were Robben and Cech. Though Robben played only for about 60 mins, he was tormenting the first choice Man Utd defence. You can say that he is in form when he runs past world class defenders like he is doing his skills in the training ground. On several occasions, the Man Utd defence were embarrassed very badly by his flip-flaps. It was a shame that he couldnt play a part in the winning goal. Petr Cech. We’ve said enough and more. When Jose used to call him as the best goalkeeper in the world, I always thought, ‘oh yes, one of the best’. Having come back from a near-fatal head injury, his recent performances have truly made him the ‘50-million-pound-man’. I cannot think of any other goalkeeper who is better than Petr at this moment.
In the second half of the extra time, came this interesting moment where Giggs found a new way of scoring a goal. I have utmost respect for Giggs, who I think is a fantastic professional and a true Man Utd legend, but for him to claim an illegal goal was not quite like him. Rooney made swift cross that was meant for Alan Smith or Giggs. With Smith failing to connect the ball, Giggs made a meal of that finish and Cech collected the ball as cool as he can be, about 2 feet from the goal line. Unable to stop the momentum, Giggs crashed onto Cech who saved and stalled, pushing Cech inside the goal with the ball about half a foot inside the line. I’m not sure if any of the officials saw it. I was expecting for a freekick to be given to Cech for Giggs sliding on Cech to push him behind the line. Once the keeper has legally grabbed the tight to his chest, anything you do is not going to help you.
Cristiano Ronaldo was a spectator for most of the match. He had switch from left to right to keep away from Paulo who had him in his pocket. He got no favours from Wayne too. He could hardly ever step into the box, but for the set pieces. At a big stage, when it mattered, at his best form and fitness, we have tamed Ronaldo and he was no better than what Ljunberg was, in his last few matches (I’m not sure if that was an insult!). The way Chelsea controlled the midfield was a joy to watch. Even in defence, barring a few mistakes, we never panicked, even when Rooney was one-on-one with Cech. Overall, we were better organised and prepared for this game than Man Utd.
With 4 minutes to go and the possibility of yet another spot kick session looming large, came the moment we were all waiting for. While everyone was expecting this match to go to the penalties, Mikel sensed an opportunity and passed the ball to Drogba. The next 3 seconds were pure magic. Drogba flicked the ball to Lampard and Lamps sent back a perfectly weighted lob to Drogba in the middle of the box. Van der Sar realised the danger and advanced to Drogba, which did not change Top Drog’s plans. He coolly finished with a volley to send the blues crazy. The goal celebrations were extravangant and I just loved them. Man Utd knew that to score against Chelsea in the last four minutes in this stage is almost impossible.
Drogba has had a great season. I’m not even sure if he would have another season like this in future. Out of his 33 goals this season, more than 25 goals must really match winning or crucial ones. This was a perfect finish for Drogba’s magnificent season. If you look back this season, you might conclude that this was his most important goal for its value and the stage.
This post-match comments from Drogba sums up the ‘New Drogba’:
This doesn’t make up for the League and Champions League - and we want our title back. But I love finals, you only reach them to win, and this was a very difficult game against a fantastic team. I was looking for this first goal against Manchester United for two years and it happened today. Now we just want to celebrate.
John Terry too talks about coming back stronger for the premiership and champions league next season. Not coincidence, just team mentality.
We have signed off the season on a high note and that makes me very proud. We kept going right until the end and this is what this team is all about. We’re disappointed about the League and the Champions League but we will come back even stronger next year.
Of all the player interviews, this one from Lampard would most interest the Chelsea fans:
These are my people and I want to stay. This is my club and I hope I can sort it out soon because I want to stay forever.
Well, we’d like you to stay here forever too. It’ll all be sorted out. I hope before the start of the next season, Frank signs another 4-year deal or something.
Jose did not fail to signal the crowd on the sixth trophy. After a couple of seasons, he might need someone else’s help if he continues this legend. Roman, Kenyon were all seen very happy. I hope Roman is satisfied with what we have achieved this season.
He gave it all to the players:
We have won every trophy in English football in three years. It is something the players deserve so much because of the difficult season they have had. It is a moment for everybody to enjoy. I think we deserve to go into the holiday period with this cup and a medal. The team played very well, they understood exactly the plan. The players deserved to win this final trophy of the season and the victory is for them and for the supporters. We know the game plan and how to beat them and I think the boys deserved this great moment.
He was at his best when he conveyed that his most talked about dog has been sent back to Portugal:
The dog is fine in Portugal - that big threat is away - you don’t have to worry about crime anymore.
Man! You have to give it to him!
37 Comments
1. Maysam
2. prats
YYYYYYYYYYYYEEEEEEEEEEESSSSSSSSSSSSSS!!!!!!!!!!
3. cap123
YESSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSS!!!!
apart from 15 minutes in the 2nd half and those final touches from us, that game was awful lol, but what a way to finish it.
I was so elated during those celebrations!
4. abdullah
A great finish to a good season. At last we showed united whose boss. Drogba is the real best player of the premiership i mean did u even hear ronaldo’s name? We totally deserved to win with all the problems we had. Our players are heroes, cech, terry, drogba, lampard, cole, cole, robben, bridge, maka, mikel essien, paulo, kalou, SWP…sry if i left sum1 out, but everyone played well. Congratulations 2 chelsea and may we wina lot more next season. Blue4lyfe.
5. cancorus
A great game and beautiful way to cap really tough but enjoyable season. On the game I think jose proved his tactical ability once again in many areas of the game he set his team compact, took out ronaldo, set his midfield up to favour his team. Speaking of midfield what do you guys think of mikel, jose says he was unbelievable, i think he was in hes own class (world class). Drogba is the best striker in he world (atleast on of them).
6. Manish
Guys congrats to all on FA cup win….
I was really impressed by our defence and midfield….
Mikel was pick of the players without doubt….he was
everywhere,I have never seen him loosing ball…
even Fereira performed well….still I would
like to say that we don’t connect well upfront…we did
once and scored a fantastic goal….if we can do it
regularly we will be unbeatable….what I want to see
is a better linking and understanding between
Robben,Shaun,Joe and strikers(whoever they are)….
Drogba scored a fantastic goal but overall he was not
so good….can he ever run with ball for 5 metres….
Congrats again.
7. robben 16
m8 i LOVE this team !
what can i say >> great win ….. we won the WAR
have to say something …. fergison…. have a rest … you will never ever beat jose …. EVER..
lets celaprate everybody !!!
blue is the color … football is the game
8. Danski
Guys what a game, My heart was in my mouth for every minute of that game! What a good disply from the team, not perfect but compared to ManUre we were beautiful, link up play between SWP and Paulo was amazing Ronaldo was kept in Their pocket for all the match,Ronaldo’s biggest challenge was stopping Rooney running off with his possetion tho lol. All in all we were good, maybe a little loose with the odd pass but on the screen we clearly looked in control, We had many good opertunities but i feel that we should keep a man on the edge of the box for sending screamers top corner instead of trying to walk it into the net all of the time, a pass to the top of the box could be just as powerful as a cross to the back post. Well iv said it once and ll say it again We Dont Need Sheva and Ballack, they re great players and have done average for us this season, i would like to give them chance to proove me wrong and i hope they do but i feel we bought merchandise rather than 2 world-class players.
CONGRATS to every chelsea suporter, chelsea player and member of the chelsea staff, u have done us proud, lets step up and do even better next season!
9. Johnarejr
Didn’t I say Lampard and Drogba would put the FA in our trophy case? And what a wonderful set up it was. Giggs has got to be joking about his shot. He pushed Cech and the ball.
Chelea could have won all four trophies as of April 30th and ended up with two (Carling and FA). Came in second in the Prem and lost in the CL semi. I’ll learn to put up with this disappointing season!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
10. Anonymous
BC, please check your email. Great, great win.
11. Anonymous
BC, please check your email. I sent you a couple whilst you were gone. Great, great win.
12. boruff_blue
great, great win…
paulo was spot-on to contain cronaldo,
mikel was solid holding the midfield,
maka was terrible…lost a lot of balls,
robben made impact when he came on but was prone to injuries,
the entire match quality was awful…very dull,
but it was euphoria when drogba scored.
had fun watching the game coz saw many many disappointed faces of man ure fans after drogba scored.
p/s: BC, your analysis before the actual game was totally wrong…ehehe, no hard feelings ok 
we won, yeay!!!
13. fwembt
Ferriera finally played a game worthy of the postion. It surely helped that CR7 seemed more inclined to preen than to play, he could scarcely even find the time for a good flop or two. I wonder where the Lampard bashing crowd will be after this game. He truly played a tremendous game and was incisive in the the second half and the extra time. (No, he is not the best in the world but surely his name should be included in those discussions). Kalou even shook his malaise of the last fortnight to manage a couple of worthwhile efforts. All in all it was a grand win. It will be a great week if the Scousers fail in Greece.
14. Blue Champion
Well, that’s why Jose Mourinho is Jose Mourinho and I am where I am! I can also say that out of the two roads that led to glory, José took the other road than the one I suggested!
15. danski blue!
BC im sure u can be forgiven lol, at least u admit when your wrong lol this is a great site btw!!
I hear reports that sheva has been talking to milan players about not being happy? whats everybodies veiw on him staying?
My personal opinion is that (ofcourse) £30M is a complete joke for ne player, but secondly i didnt see passion or dedication towrds his game when he played, i know drogba doesn’t always look full of energy but Sheva just seemd tired all season! Im glad ballack is not going as i think after pre-season he should find his feet in EPL and i await to see who these “3 mystery Players” are that will be out african nations reserves!!!
16. RomanHoliday
Hail Chelsea for a great season inspite of everything.
Watch out everyone for next season we are a-coming at u !
17. joeblue
Fly high up in the sky
we’ll keep the blue flag flying high
from Stamford Bridge to Wembley
we’ll keep the blue flag flyin’ high!!!!!
Terrible game , but amazing win , typical JM team ,finally we hav the FA cup , the elusive one , congrats to CFC , JM , Roman ,Arnesen , Kenyon , the CFC board , the players , RH, BC , M_D and all the blues of the world!!!!!!
cheers
Joeblue
P.S I hope JM does sign somebody good this time , for a change atleast!!!!!
18. Ruben Uria
Hello to all, I am a Spanish journalist that anxious to see the final between the Liverpool and Milan. One reflexion of Athen’s final, is called. Honour’s men A hug and enhorabuena by yours blog. Chelsea fans wants Reds will be beated by Milan? true or false?
Bye!
19. Ruben Uria
Sorry for my english, its very bad but…¿chelsea fans desires a italian victory?
Important: congratulations for the victory in the F.A Cup. Drogba was fantastic
20. Manish
Ruben…how can you say Drogba was fantastic….he did create and score a fantastic goal but I think overall he was very poor..I just can’t understand why fans feel so great about a striker who can’t dribble, run, pass and link with others….sorry guys but I really don’t like Drogba’s style of play…
21. Siddharth
With permission from BC, I would like to point out Jose’s tactics when it comes to playing Paulo, Diarra & Geremi.
I find his tactics quite strange that out of these three, he plays them all but not consistently to any one of them.
When Geremi was at his best in Nov / Dec., Mourinho gave chance to Diarra which he grabbed by both the hands (legs i should say). Everyone thought it solved our right back problem, but then came Fererra.
when i saw Paulo playing ahead of Diarra in CL Semi final against Liv, i was surprised. Fererra played very well though to keep Zenden quiet and he played oustanding to keep C.Ronaldo out of the game in FA cup final. Idont think Diarra was injured in those matches.
As far as i understand, Paulo seems to be preferred over Geremi & Diarra when it comes to playing big matches, lack of experience maybe the reason why Diarra does not play in those matches.
Disclaimer: These are thoughts from a person who is very amature to football tactics, if there is anything wrong in above comments please forgive.
22. danski
A good season ended perfectly by a FA CUP win and LOOSERPOOL failing miserably at the final champions league hurdle! Goes to show you shouldnt just chase 1 trophey rafa ya big tart!
Anyone heard any solid transfer news other than Readings gingerwell???
23. Johnarejr
Jose was right. The better team lost at Anfield in the CL Semis. Rafa was talking much junk about how Chelsea doesn’t play beautiful football. Forgive me for getting Biblical but, “Charm is deceptive and beauty is fleeting” (Proverbs 31:30). Jose and our men added two beautiful trophies in the case this year with “ugly” football. Liverpool added dust.
But did y’all hear Rafa talk about all the changes he planned to make to his team the day BEFORE the game? Gee what a great morale booster he is! And now he will try to use money from my rich countrymen to do the same thing that all Chelsea haters accuse us of. Yeah BC, we are having the last laugh this season. And it’s a good one!
24. charls
BOLLYWOOD CONNECTION;
(Congrats to you for the champions legue victory of AC Milan)
Chelsea FC has played down reports that football stars Frank Lampard and John Terry are to cameo in the forthcoming Bollywood movie Jhoom Barabar Jhoom. “Unfortunately the players won’t have time in their schedule to appear in the film,†said a club spokesman. “But [Chelsea ground] Stamford Bridge is the backdrop for the action, and we feel very honoured to be the first club involved in a project of this nature.†Shot in the UK, the Bollywood film is set to be released in May 2007. Abhishek Bachchan, Lara Dutta and Preity Zinta play lead roles.
Bachchan - son of Bollywood legend Amitabh Bachchan - said on Monday that the Premier League is “very popular†in India. The actor said he played “a very loyal Chelsea fan†in the film and had been given a jersey by the club with his character’s name - Rikki - on the back.
It had previously been reported that Lampard and Terry would have walk-on parts in the film, along with Chelsea manager Jose Mourinho. “We are delighted to be involved in a Bollywood movie,†said Chelsea’s business affairs director Paul Smith when the project was announced.
“We take it as a big compliment to be approached with this storyline and to be associated with this calibre of actors and actresses.â€
Amitabh and sharukh will play guest roll in this film
25. Manish
Thanks god for saving us from Lpool fans’ taunts had they won…
26. RomanHoliday
Compared with Liverpuddle
We are the better team like JM said .
Why?
Cos we got 2 trophies in a really bad year
Cos we got to the semis of the CL
Cos we pressured ManU to the last 2 games of the EPL
Cos we have the nucleus of a team that will dominate for the co ming 3-4 years at least
And U really can’t say they play beyootifool footybol all the time while we play ugly always either.
Nothing personal against Scousers : But u rode ur luck too much and that was in doing only one competition. The results would’ve been worse if they
27. Manish
To RH,
///And U really can’t say they play beyootifool footybol all the time while we play ugly always either.///
Who are u refering to here by ‘they’…if its LPool then I am in splits…LPool playing beautiful football even occasionally, leave alone all the time???…are you mad….they play a boring brand of football wherein they only try to close in the game and stifle the opposition….this is the only strategy they know…I know Chelsea also plays like this many times but we play according to opposition…whenever we need attacking style we do it as we did against Arsenal at Emirates with 10 men or against ManU last season when we were trailing by 1 goal…we won none of these games but for me these have been best Chelsea performances.
28. joeblue
Who cares how they play????? In they end they r the losers , the fat rat can now thrash all the crap he wants , who cares???? We r happy to win 2 trophies in a ‘POOR’ season and look at those bummers!!!!
Anyhow it looks like Alex might be called back(finally) from PSV , Sidwell has already agreed terms , it seems its either going to be Berbatov , McCarthy or Pizarro for the striker slot , and maybe Crespo will be recalled , but i doubt he wld agree to come back(though i wld go to milan myself and drag him to London if i cld)!!!!!
Keep the blue flag high!!!!!
cheers
Joeblue
29. Manish
No Crespo….we better try for someone like Podolski or Eto…..
30. danski blue!
what ya mean no crespo?
31. Manish
No Crespo means no need of Crespo at Chelsea…
32. Adonees
Eurosport is reporting a 35 million pound offer for Tevez from West Ham… What do you all think of that deal??
33. Manish
Bring in Tevez….certainly will be a great asset…he will
certainly justify this fee….
34. vijayanil
What an exiting match that was, Its a collective win and chelsea deserves the FA cup. Keep winning Chelsea.
35. RomanHoliday
Sorry guys
Didn’t know what I was writing .
L Pool beyootifool futibol ? NO NO NO.And they become even more boring whenever they meet us .
Next time I say we send out the CFC chess team to deal with them.
Senor Fatarafa is even more functional and plodding than our JM sometimes.
can’t believe he’s Spanish. All the flair and tricks must be at Barca and Rmadrid I guess.
36. zack
Very good web site, great work and thank you for your service.+8
37. fox
Very nice work, admin Good luck!
GOAL , Drogba , this team is unbeleivable. :))
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