FA Cup Final

It somehow seemed fitting, if not entirely predictable, that in a season dominated by Chelsea and Manchester Utd, they should meet to decide the outcome of the FA Cup. It was also fitting that the first competitive fixture at the New Wembley Stadium would be the FA Cup final, the Old Wembley having graced so many wonderful FA Cup moments over the years.

I had my reservations about this encounter, however. Two big clubs meeting in a final often results in cagey, cautious football with few chances. The 1996 final between Man Utd and Liverpool, the two dominant teams at that time, was a drab and rather stolid affair characterized by a midfield quagmire. My reservations proved to be well founded. It took a full 20 minutes for the first semblance of an attempt on goal to be made, and this was a 30 yard shot from Drogba that flew well wide of the mark. Chelsea were effectively stifling United's greater attacking flair and effectively playing the offside trap - Wayne Rooney being a victim on a number of occasions.

The second half was a definite improvement, with United edging it. Rooney finally managed to break loose, dribbling past two defenders before arrowing a shot in which was well saved by Cech. Giggs then flashed a drive narrowly over. Inevitably it seemed, the stalemale continued till the full time whistle. Two incidents in extra time defined the match. First, Petr Cech seemed to carry the ball over the goal line while making a save under pressure from Ryan Giggs, though a goal was not given. Replays confirmed that the ball had crossed the line, though it remained open to debate whether Cech was fouled. In any case, there was definitely a fair shout for a penalty for a foul on Giggs just before the goal line incident.

Inevitably it seemed, given their track record of last minute winners, Chelsea struck. Chelsea's strategy against so many teams this season, which proved effective against United today, involves slowly strangling their opponents, and then stepping up the pace in the last 20 minutes or so of a match, when frustration sets in and determination begins to flag. In this case, it took until the 116th minute, with Drogba playing a neat one two, receiving the return ball and planting it in the bottom corner to seal the victory. That Chelsea were even in the FA Cup final in the first place was down to an even more astonishing recovery after trailing 3-1 to Spurs at White Hart Lane in the quarter-finals. Here, as penalties loomed, we learned yet again to never rule Chelsea out.

So Chelsea deny United the double and gain a measure of revenge for losing the Premiership title to them. They also complete the domestic Cup double. It was a pity though that the two teams did not manage to produce the excitement, or the skillful football that was merited by such a grand occasion at such a grand new venue.