Chelsea beat Liverpool to lift seventh FA Cup
Saturday, May 5, 2012
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Chelsea FC lifted their seventh FA Cup and a fourth in six years with a 2-1 victory against Liverpool FC courtesy of Ramires's first-half strike and a landmark goal from Didier Drogba.
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Chelsea FC overcame Liverpool FC 2-1 to win their seventh FA Cup and their fourth in six years thanks to Ramires's first-half goal and a landmark strike by Didier Drogba.
It was a cagey first half and, although Ramires gave Chelsea an early lead, opportunities were few and far between. Drogba doubled the Blues' advantage after the break to become the only player to score in four FA Cup finals. Andy Carroll gave Liverpool hope with an emphatic strike but Chelsea held on with the help of a superb reflex save by Petr Čech.
In his programme notes Chelsea's interim manager Roberto Di Matteo hailed his side's 'class and character' in their 5-1 semi-final victory against Tottenham Hotspur FC and Juan Mata showed plenty of the former to set up Ramires for the opening goal on 11 minutes. The Spanish international pounced on a mistake by Jay Spearing to find Ramires with a perfectly weighted pass and the midfielder raced clear of José Enrique to fire in a shot which went in off Pepe Reina at his near post.
Liverpool came close to an immediate response but Branislav Ivanović blocked Craig Bellamy's goal-bound volley after Chelsea failed to clear Glen Johnson's centre. Midway through the first half the lively Salomon Kalou looked to have weaved his way through the Liverpool defence but his mesmerising run was halted by Daniel Agger at the final hurdle.
The UEFA Champions League finalists continued to control the game in the second half and doubled their lead on 52 minutes. Frank Lampard evaded the challenge of Spearing in midfield and slid the ball into the path of Drogba, who squeezed his effort through the legs of Martin Škrtel and into the bottom right-hand corner to become the first player to score in four FA Cup finals.
Seemingly down and out, Liverpool were back in the game 12 minutes later when substitute Carroll pounced on a loose ball, made himself some room in the penalty area and rifled it into the roof of the net giving Čech no chance.
Buoyed by their goal, Liverpool went in search of an equaliser and came close when Carroll's header was superbly pawed on to the crossbar by Čech with eight minutes remaining. The west Londoners held on, however, to give themselves the perfect boost ahead of the UEFA Champions League showpiece in a fortnight's time.
