Chelsea 1-0 Portsmouth

[BlueLion. 21,491]

Didier Drogba's superb free-kick was enough for Chelsea to see off Portsmouth in the FA Cup Final.

The Ivorian brilliantly curled the ball home after a frustrating first half in which the much-fancied Premier League champions were denied five times by the woodwork.

However in a moment that typifies Chelsea's spirit, grit and determination, it was Petr Cech's excellent penalty save which earns the Blues an historic league and cup double - the first time it has been achieved by the West London outfit.

The win means that not only are they double winners but also the first team since Arsenal to successfully defend the FA Cup - and the Blues have now won three of the four finals at the new Wembley stadium.

Carlo Ancelotti will have surprised few with his decision to name an unchanged starting eleven after the Blues had mauled Wigan 8-0 last Sunday, and the Italian's quiet and focused demeanour will have certainly won many friends to the Chelsea cause - a huge comparison with the outspoken and controversial José Mourinho.

This particular double is something the Special One could not achieve - and though the ex-Porto boss won a double of his own in his début season, winning the Carling Cup and Premier League, Ancelotti has bettered his rival by completing an achievement only achieved by six other clubs.

And with the Community Shield secured way back in August - again thanks to Cech - it has been a remarkable season of unprecedented success for Chelsea and their Italian coach.

Chelsea will be delighted with the retention of their trophy but key man Drogba cut a frustrated figure as the Blues trudged off at half-time, denied a lead only through a combination the frame of the goal and the brilliance of David James.

As expected it was the menace of Chelsea's three-pronged attack - the in-form trio of Drogba, Kalou and Anelka - that posed the greatest threat of all, but it was 27-goal midfielder Frank Lampard that had the first effort of the final; narrowly volleying wide from the edge of the area.

The England midfielder then clipped the post with a dipping drive from 30 yards that might just have evaded James' hand had it been on target.

Lampard was enjoying a good opening to the game and it was he who set Anelka free just moments later, the Frenchman's shot saved at the near post by David James who made the first of many excellent stops.

Aaron Mokoena then came to Portsmouth's rescue with two brilliant blocks as Chelsea finally carved the heart of the South Coast side's defence. The ball fell to Drogba whose first shot was denied by the trailing leg of the South Africa captain before the defender made a crucial second block to deny his fellow African.

Frederic Piquionne then forced a stunning save out of Cech at the other end as Portsmouth threatened for the first time in the match. Loan player Aruna Dindane's cross was only half-hit by Kevin Prince Boateng; the ball falling to Piquionne who could only watch in disbelief as Cech readjusted himself to paw the ball away.

Kalou then rattled the woodwork from six yards as he inexplicably failed to convert Ashley Cole's superb cross after the England star had combined with Florent Malouda.

Chesting the ball down, Cole rifled it across the face of goal but Kalou could only shin the ball onto the woodwork. James' goal was living a charmed life, though this time it was the fault of poor finishing rather than fortune alone.

Three minutes later Chelsea's shortcomings were compounded when Terry clipped the bar with a bullet header from Malouda's cross. As the Frenchman became more involved his deliveries were also improving, and he was unlucky not to see Terry convert with James again beaten.

Michael Ballack was then substituted due to injury despite his best efforts to shake off a knock sustained after a terrible challenge by Boateng, and Drogba produced a fine save from James who tipped the Ivorian's 40-yard effort onto the underside of the bar.

The ball looked to have crossed the line and even though replays showed the decision not to give the goal was a good one, it may have been a defining moment had the game ended 0-0. Fortunately for Chelsea, it would not.

However the much-fancied champions were again denied by the woodwork before the half was over; Drogba poking under James only to see the foot of the near post deny his side the perfect tonic to a period of immense frustration. As it happened, it only aided the despair of Ancelotti and the Chelsea faithful.

Chelsea had dominated the first half but they were second best for the first ten minutes of the second period; Boateng volleying just over from a tight angle just moments after the interval.

Belletti - playing probably his last game for the side - then saw Chris Foy point to the spot after he stupidly hacked down Dindane inside the box. Boateng stepped up trying to make amends for his earlier miss, but the inspired Czech goalkeeper denied the ex-Tottenham man with a superb save.

It might not have been the best penalty Wembley has seen in recent years but it was still a magnificent save by Cech who had to focus to save with his feet. Alex subsequently cleared and Chelsea were able to regroup.

A lethargic start to the second half had almost been punished by Boateng and Chelsea responded in kind by taking the lead; this time neither James nor the post able to deny them.

Drogba was hacked down outside the box and the Ivorian majestically bent the ball past the dive of James and in off the post. It was about time fortune had smiled on the Blues, and a cacophony of noise erupted from the Chelsea faithful - they led in the final.

Substitute Joe Cole then had a chance shortly after to make it a dream end to his season but his effort was charged down only moments after James had again blocked Drogba's shot.

But Portsmouth were not willing to merely give up, and but for a vital touch by John Terry; turning the ball behind for a corner, Nadir Belhadj's cross would surely have been converted by the lurking Dindane.

Cech's penalty save had proved to be a key turning point and Chelsea were now in the ascendancy. Lampard was fouled inside the box by Michael Brown who had been flirting with the referee's notebook all match, and the usually-reliable England midfielder stood up knowing he could win the cup for his club.

He missed. It wasn't even saved; Lampard fired wide of the target. Portsmouth knew they still had a chance - fortunate was favouring them but unfortunately for the well-supported underdogs, it wasn't to be; Alex was on hand to make a number of excellent clearing headers and Cech then gratefully plucked Kanu's cross from the air.

It was to be the last action of a brilliant and compelling cup final. You will have to go a long, long way to find a better 1-0 for many years to come.

The scoreline was irrelevant; Chelsea had done the necessary. Ironic, perhaps, that the trophy was brought home by just thanks to just a single goal but in a season where Chelsea have smashed all sorts of records for their new-found attacking prowess - but the Blues are worthy winners and deserved their famous victory.

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Chelsea (4-3-3): Cech; Ivanovic, Alex, Terry ©, A Cole; Lampard, Ballack (Belletti 43), Malouda; Anelka (Sturridge 90), J Drogba, Kalou (J Cole 70)

Portsmouth (4-4-1-1): James ©; Finnan, Mokoena, Rocha, Mullins (Belhadj 81); Dindane, Diop (Kanu 80), Brown, Boateng (Utaka 73); O'Hara; Piquionne

The TalkChelsea.net Man of the Match was Chelsea's number 1 - Petr CECH