Tim Cahill’s Everton lost 2-1 to Chelsea in the FA Cup Final at Wembley Stadium on Saturday despite taking the lead after just 25 seconds.
The Toffees went in front with the fastest Cup Final goal in the competition’s 127-year history when Marouane Fellaini headed back for Louis Saha who finished exquisitely on the half-volley from the edge of the Chelsea penalty area.
Chelsea remained as cool as you would expect from a side led by former Socceroos coach Guus Hiddink – despite temperatures reaching a sweltering 41 degrees at Wembley – and dominated possession for the next 20 minutes before getting back on level terms.
For the equaliser Florent Malouda was completely alone on the left touchline and used his ample time to put in a perfect centre that Didier Drogba, rising in front of the sluggish Joleon Lescott, met with an unstoppable header.
Despite Chelsea controlling the game they did not create a clear-cut chance until Ashley Cole beat Tony Hibbert on the left but skewed his effort from a close angle wide of the goal.
In the second half most chances went to Chelsea and even before Frank Lampard scored the winner Nicolas Anelka lobbed a good chance over the bar.
Everton’s lone chance to go in front came when Leighton Baines cross was headed wide by Saha, standing just in front of Cahill.
The Socceroos midfielder had a quiet game with no clear-cut opportunity to score.
In the 33rd minute he almost latched onto a Saha through-ball only for Petr Cech to come out and gather.
His lone shot on target came just after the hour mark when he blocked an Alex clearance and fired straight at the Chelsea goalkeeper from 25 yards out.
In the 72nd minute the game was ultimately settled when Lampard turned Everton captain Phil Neville outside the area and drove in an effort with his weaker left foot that, frustratingly for Everton, their goalkeeper should have saved having got both hands to the ball after a full-length dive.
Everton did not come close to getting an equaliser after this point and, having chased shadows for much of the game, they appeared tired as Chelsea came close to extending their lead in the closing stages.
Malouda lobbed the ball over the bar from close range when he should have done better and then hit a superb curling 30-yard effort that should have been awarded a goal after bouncing behind the goal-line – though neither the referee or his assistance spotted this.
In the end the error did not matter as Chelsea, in Hiddink’s last game in charge, lifted the famous trophy for the fifth time.
Lampard said that his tribute when he scored was for his mother, who died last year.
“We showed a lot of character and dominated the match after half-time,” said Lampard.
“The winning goal tribute was how my father (Frank senior) celebrated when he scored a rare goal.
“My mother would have appreciated it.”
For Drogba it meant a welcome high after having been lambasted following his outburst when Chelsea were knocked out of the Champions League by Barcelona.
“I am really delighted,” gasped Drogba.
“It took a lot of effort. We needed to win a trophy this season. We just had to believe in our expectations. Guus Hiddink has transformed us.”
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