By Rob Draper
At the end they embraced like champions, those old warriors of Chelsea, and bounced up and down in a circle like excited children in familiar fashion.
Chelsea are again FA Cup winners and a season that seemed to be disappearing into the abyss is ending in silverware.
The ultimate dream of owner Roman Abramovich may yet follow in Munich. But for now the team and, in particular Roberto di Matteo, a manager who surely deserves a title more exalted than caretaker, should glory in their remarkable turnaround.
For Chelsea, out of sorts for so long this season, this was a return to normality. They have virtually appropriated this famous old trophy in recent years with four victories since 2007.
All around records were tumbling: it was Ashley Cole’s seventh FA Cup win, Didier Drogba’s fourth FA Cup final goal and the fourth time captain John Terry has lifted that cup.
And yet Chelsea’s celebrations were infused with a degree of relief, and not just because an 82nd-minute header from Andy Carroll briefly seemed to have brought the score back to 2-2.
For more than an hour they utterly dominated before a 64th-minute goal from substitute Carroll changed everything.
Liverpool, who had been sleepwalking to defeat, were suddenly galvanised and Chelsea, previously untroubled, spent the rest of the game in survival mode. And when Carroll headed goalwards on 82 minutes, it seemed extra-time beckoned as he wheeled away in celebration. Mercifully, a goalline controversy was settled correctly, but it was still an almighty scare for Chelsea.
For Di Matteo, who twice scored goals at the old Wembley to win Chelsea the Cup, Saturday was a vindication whatever an uncertain future holds.
At the end they embraced like champions, those old warriors of Chelsea, and bounced up and down in a circle like excited children in familiar fashion.
Chelsea are again FA Cup winners and a season that seemed to be disappearing into the abyss is ending in silverware.
The ultimate dream of owner Roman Abramovich may yet follow in Munich. But for now the team and, in particular Roberto di Matteo, a manager who surely deserves a title more exalted than caretaker, should glory in their remarkable turnaround.
Party time: Chelsea won the FA Cup at Wembley thanks to Didier Drogba's second-half goal
MATCH FACTS
Chelsea: Cech, Bosingwa, Ivanovic, Terry, Cole, Ramires (Meireles 76), Mikel, Lampard, Kalou, Drogba, Mata (Sturridge 90).
Subs not used: Turnbull, Essien, Torres, Malouda, Ferreira.
Goals: Ramires 11, Drogba 52.
Booked: Mikel
Liverpool: Reina, Johnson, Skrtel, Agger, Jose Enrique, Spearing (Carroll 55), Henderson, Downing, Gerrard, Bellamy (Kuyt 78), Suarez.
Subs not used: Doni, Maxi, Carragher, Shelvey, Kelly.
Goal: Carroll 64
Booked: Agger, Suarez
Referee: Phil Dowd (Staffordshire)
Att: 89,102
Subs not used: Turnbull, Essien, Torres, Malouda, Ferreira.
Goals: Ramires 11, Drogba 52.
Booked: Mikel
Liverpool: Reina, Johnson, Skrtel, Agger, Jose Enrique, Spearing (Carroll 55), Henderson, Downing, Gerrard, Bellamy (Kuyt 78), Suarez.
Subs not used: Doni, Maxi, Carragher, Shelvey, Kelly.
Goal: Carroll 64
Booked: Agger, Suarez
Referee: Phil Dowd (Staffordshire)
Att: 89,102
All around records were tumbling: it was Ashley Cole’s seventh FA Cup win, Didier Drogba’s fourth FA Cup final goal and the fourth time captain John Terry has lifted that cup.
And yet Chelsea’s celebrations were infused with a degree of relief, and not just because an 82nd-minute header from Andy Carroll briefly seemed to have brought the score back to 2-2.
For more than an hour they utterly dominated before a 64th-minute goal from substitute Carroll changed everything.
Liverpool, who had been sleepwalking to defeat, were suddenly galvanised and Chelsea, previously untroubled, spent the rest of the game in survival mode. And when Carroll headed goalwards on 82 minutes, it seemed extra-time beckoned as he wheeled away in celebration. Mercifully, a goalline controversy was settled correctly, but it was still an almighty scare for Chelsea.
For Di Matteo, who twice scored goals at the old Wembley to win Chelsea the Cup, Saturday was a vindication whatever an uncertain future holds.
Goal? Andy Carroll thought his header was over the line but referee Phil Dowd disagreed
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