CHELSEA 2, EVERTON 1
Frank Lampard keeps his cool in Wembley furnace
WHEN the full heat of a pressure-cooker FA Cup final was at its most fierce, the coolest heads around belonged to Frank Lampard and Guus Hiddink.
Wembley Stadium sizzled in temperatures touching 100 degrees but the Chelsea midfielder and his stop-gap manager stepped outside the glare. And they entered the zone where only true winners survive.
Click here for all the FA Cup Final pictures from Chelsea 2, Everton 1
Click here for pictures of Guus Hiddink's and Roman Abramovich's amazing dressing room party
Lampard's stunning goal was a strike worthy of settling the very greatest game. Hiddink's calm and considered appraisal of a match which was only briefly out of their reach was just as telling.
Weaker teams would have wilted after Louis Saha gave Everton the lead after an astonishing 25 seconds - the fastest goal in FA Cup final history.
But once Didier Drogba had levelled the scores, Chelsea were never going to let the final slip from their grasp - not with Lampard driving them on and turning up the heat a few notches higher.
His goal was his 20th of the season, the sixth successive campaign he has reached that milestone. A cause for celebration and Lampard tore a page out of the family scrapbook to commemorate the moment.
He danced a jig around the corner flag, just as his dad Frank Snr did when he scored the winner for West Ham against Everton in the semi-final of the same competition 19 years ago.
It was a place in the sun that Lampard deserved - not that his career has ever been hidden in the shadows.
The league meetings between the two clubs had resulted in drab goalless draws but any fears that this would turn into another sorry, scoreless stalemate were blown away within a minute. That's how long it took for Saha to grab the opener.
Once a Red crock but now a battling Blue, the former Manchester United striker won the vote from boss David Moyes to make the Everton starting line-up.
The decision was inspired. The Toffees boss gambled on the impact of the French striker outweighing his suspect injury record and was rewarded with a start that was beyond the wildest dreams of the Merseysiders.
Chelsea failed to deal with Steven Pienaar's cross from the left and when Marouane Fellaini returned John Obi Mikel's headed clearance into the penalty area, Saha thumped his left-foot volley past Petr Cech.
Though they were stunned by such an instant blow, Chelsea soon stirred themselves into life.
They were helped by an invitation from Everton to attack the space on the right side of their defence which opened up like a swinging barn door. Full-back Tony Hibbert was booked for a seventh-minute foul on Florent Malouda and thereafter seemed reluctant to get within touching distance of any Chelsea man who ventured into his territory.
The thought of a second yellow card seemed to grab the defender by the throat and paralyse him with fear. Hiddink was soon alert to the opportunity and switched the whole point of his team's attack to that side of the field.
Several openings were wasted until the 21st minute when Hibbert again stood off Malouda, who had time to look up and deliver the perfect cross for Drogba.
The striker muscled aside Joleon Lescott and sent a powerful header into the net - his fifth goal in as many domestic finals for Chelsea. The whole of Everton's strategy was being undermined by the frailty of their right flank.
And it was happening under the nose of Moyes who was screaming at Hibbert and Leon Osman from his technical area to shut out the danger.
His pleas went unanswered and just before the interval Hibbert was missing again as Ashley Cole charged into the penalty area. The England full-back had the options of a pass to Drogba or a shot at goal but he wastefully sliced his effort wide at the near post.
It was to be Hibbert's last part in the game. Moyes chose to replace him with Lars Jacobsen at the interval in an act of mercy as much as a tactical switch.
The occasion had got to the Everton man and the strength- sapping sunshine began to take its toll on players of both sides as the second half slowed temporarily to a crawl.
But an injection of pace by Nicolas Anelka brought the final back to the boil. Released by Lampard's pass his lobbed attempt was just too high.
There was a burst of energy too from Everton when Saha's header from Leighton Baines' cross flew over the top. But Lampard delivered the game's most decisive act with his 72nd-minute goal.
Turning inside Phil Neville, he momentarily lost his footing but regained his bearings to unleash a left-foot shot of power and precision.
Keeper Tim Howard managed to get two hands to the ball but the force of the effort took it into the net.
Malouda fired another good chance over the bar from Lampard's pass and the Chelsea wideman almost uprooted the goal frame with a thundering shot from 30 yards in the 79th minute.
It struck the bar and bounced down, much too quick for anyone to see with the naked eye whether it had crossed the line. Half the length of the pitch away, Hiddink raised his arms in celebration of a goal.
TV replays showed the Dutchman was right and the officials wrong in not giving it. He does not miss much this stand-in Chelsea manager but they are certainly going to miss him.
At the final whistle, Hiddink embraced coach Ray Wilkins, shook Moyes warmly by the hand and hugged each of his players.
He then took his turn to hold the trophy aloft and for that brief moment you knew the Cup was in its rightful hands.
The calm and self-assured coach had completed his mission with Chelsea, leaving them with silverware and stability - the things they had lacked before his arrival.
Then it was on to his next task and the challenge of taking Russia to World Cup glory. It was goodbye from him. Farewell but not forgotten.
This article has 5 comments
At least this season is not trophless,well done Chelsea i will always support you...The Blueeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeees.
By Dytone. Posted June 7 2009 at 6:45 PM.
That Didier at his best. When he is in form, he plays good soccer. But at times he can be silly.
By nnnnnnnnn. Posted June 6 2009 at 11:20 PM.
Well played Chelsea.
Everton you lost this game with playing long ball game. Poor passing, and poor marking of players, you could have played the off side better.
Better try again next year.
Brisbane. Australia.
By Frank. Posted May 31 2009 at 11:41 AM.
Nice One Chelsea =)
By Mia. Posted May 30 2009 at 8:24 PM.
Nice try Blues, I was hoping you'd win, at least you got to the final which was a great feat, and I wish our manager had the same knowledge as moyes lol, nice try
By bonnythescouser. Posted May 30 2009 at 7:25 PM.