The FA Cup Final - Chelsea vs Everton

BlueLion. · April 19, 2009

The FA Cup Final

Chelsea vs. Everton

Saturday 30 May 2009, Wembley Stadium, London, 15:00 KO

Chelsea face Everton at Wembley in the FA Cup Final.

The Blues won the competition in 2007, when a brilliant one-two between Didier Drogba and Frank Lampard saw the former poke the ball beyond Edwin van der Sar to beat Manchester United 1-0 in the first FA Cup Final to be contested at the new Wembley Stadium.

Two years later, the Blues return to their 'second home' in search of more silverware, after Guus Hiddink's troops dispatched Arsenal 2-1 in a semi-final, thanks to goals from Drogba and Florent Malouda. In the final they will face Everton, who knocked out favourites Manchester United 4-2 on penalties after former United goalkeeper Tim Howard denied Dimitar Berbatov and Rio Ferdinand with crucial saves during the shootout.

Over recent seasons, Everton have vastly improved and their results against Chelsea have been hugely respectable, with the Merseyside team earning a draw against the Blues earlier in the season at Goodison Park. Tim Cahill's stoppage-time overhead kick saw the Toffees earn a last-gasp draw at Stamford Bridge the season before and but for a Drogba equaliser, the Blue side of Liverpool would have ended the 2006/07 season with an unlikely victory. Everton also secured a 0-0 draw at Stamford Bridge in April 2009, though only the crossbar denied Didier Drogba a last-minute winner.

However, Chelsea's form in cup competitions against Everton is excellent; the Blues beat their rivals home and away in 2008 to progress to the Carling Cup Final, winning 3-1 on aggregate, and a 4-1 victory over the Merseyside outfit in the 2005/06 season was one of the Blues' most complete performances of the season.

The Path to the Final

Chelsea began 2009 in unconvincing style as the Blues were held to a 1-1 draw at home to Southend United of League One. Salomon Kalou had headed home in the first half, and only acrobatic goalkeeper denied Franco di Santo in the last minute as Chelsea looked to play out for a barely-deserved win. However, Peter Clarke nodded past Carlo Cudicini to set up a replay which Chelsea eventually won 4-1, coming from behind to seal the win with a trademark strike from Frank Lampard. Michael Ballack scored his first goal of the season to equalise in the first half. Everton, on the other hand, had no trouble fending off lower league opposition, although a 1-0 victory away at Macclesfield Town suggests otherwise. Leon Osman's stunning half-volley on the stroke of half-time was enough for the Toffees as Phi Jagielka and Leighton Baines both had efforts well saved in an entertaining first half.

Everton were tested in the Fourth Round as they were drawn against the might of their Merseyside neighbours Liverpool. Joleon Lescott put Everton ahead at Anfield only for Steven Gerrard to fire home after Tim Howard allowed the Liverpool captain's shot to squirm through his fingers. A 1-0 win in a replay at Goodison Park saw young Dan Gosling score a brilliant winner in extra-time, after Lucas Leiva had been sent off for the visitors. Chelsea's path to the fifth round was more simple; defeating Ipswich Town 3-1 at Stamford Bridge. Alex Bruce equalised for the Championship strugglers after Michael Ballack had put the Blues ahead, but a spectacular freekick from the German gave Chelsea a 2-1 lead. Frank Lampard then bettered his midfield colleague with a stunning 35 yard freekick to book Chelsea's place in the last sixteen.

Everton then smashed Aston Villa 3-1 at Goodison Park, with goals from Jack Rodwell, Tim Cahill and the brilliant Mikel Arteta. Villa had equalised from the spot when James Milner converted, but the Toffees were too strong and ran out healthy victors. Chelsea came from behind at Vicarage Road to beat Watford 1-3, thanks to a sublime perfect hattrick from Nicolas Anelka. Tamas Priskin beat Petr Cech to put the Hornets 1-0 up, but an overhead kick, header and an emphatic right-footed blast from Anelka set up a tie with Coventry in the Quarter-Finals. Everton would face Middlesbrough.

Chelsea's victory at the Ricoh Arena was an efficient one; with Didier Drogba and Alex scoring for Guus Hiddink's team. Drogba first rounded the Coventry goalkeeper Westwood to blast home before Alex converted a brilliant cross from Ricardo Quaresma to send Chelsea to Wembley. Everton found themselves 1-0 down at home at half-time to David Wheater's goal, but second-half strikes from Fellaini and Saha gave the hosts victory to set-up a mouth-watering tie with Manchester United.

Everton triumphed 4-2 on penalties after extra time saw the two sides deadlocked at 0-0. Tim Howard saved a lazy effort from Berbatov before Rio Ferdinand's spot kick was excellent kept out by the American, although United were right to claim for a penalty in the second half. Nevertheless, the Toffees set up a clash in the final with Chelsea, who triumphed 2-1 over Arsenal in a pulse-pounding London derby. Theo Walcott's deflected effort beat Petr Cech before Florent Malouda's beautiful goal restored parity. Drogba then netted a carbon copy of the goal he scored at the Ricoh Arena to send the blue half of Wembley into ecstacy. Can the Ivorian do it again in the final?

In what is to be Guus Hiddink's final game in charge of Chelsea, can the Dutchman mastermind a famous victory as Chelsea reach the FA Cup Final for a phenomenal fourth time in 10 seasons?

SystemBlueBob · April 19, 2009