LONDON, (Reuters) – Chelsea overcame a resilient Portsmouth side (who made a mockery of their pre-match billing as lambs to the slaughter) to win a dramatic FA Cup final 1-0 and clinch their first League and Cup Double yesterday.
Didier Drogba maintained his remarkable knack of scoring at Wembley Stadium with the winner from a 59th minute free-kick after Chelsea had hit the woodwork five times in the first half while Frank Lampard missed a late penalty.
In an astonishing match of twists and turns, Portsmouth’s Kevin-Prince Boateng, who had scored from the spot in the semi-final at Wembley, saw his 56th minute penalty saved.
The triumph gave Chelsea a second straight FA Cup final victory, after they beat Everton last season, and was a third success in four seasons for the west London side.
It was Chelsea’s sixth FA Cup triumph and fifth in 13 years as they became the seventh English club to win the double and the first team since Arsenal in 2003 to retain the trophy.
Chelsea manager Carlo Ancelotti, who has won the Double in his first season in England, told reporters afterwards: “Its a fantastic victory for me, I am very happy.
“We won’t do anything special to celebrate, I will follow my players and my friends. Wine, sure, champagne. It is right to have a celebration, the team had a fantastic season.”
“It has never happened in my career to hit the bar or post five times in one half… and we didn’t start too well in the second half but I was not worried because we were in control of the game and had chances to score.”
Portsmouth manager Avram Grant said: “It was a very difficult season. It is a season I will not forget. I have won a lot of games in my life, trophies and everything, but this was unbelievable. We always played against the odds.”
In the first final between the champions and the bottom team in the top flight, Chelsea dominated the first half but were thwarted on five occasions when Drogba (twice), Frank Lampard, Salomon Kalou and John Terry all hit the bar or post.
Despite the pressure on their team, Portsmouth’s incredibly vociferous fans made the greater noise inside the sun-drenched stadium and stayed to applaud their players even after defeat.
The match only turned Chelsea’s way when Boateng’s penalty, awarded after Chelsea’s Brazilian substitute Juliano Belletti brought down Aruna Dindane, was saved by Petr Cech’s legs.
