Double delight for Chelsea at Wembley.

Premier League champions Chelsea completed their FA Cup double with a narrow 1-0 victory over Portsmouth at the Wemby stadium here on saturday. Didier Drogba scored the only goal through a free kick to seal the double win for the blues. 

The match started in front of a pack stadium. Pompeys had a decent support who came out to play for pride and prove that they still belong to the premier league but it was not their day… Carlo Ancelotti‘s side had all eyes on the cup with nothing to loose. After fighting till the last match for the barclays premier league the blues wanted to finish with a double and they did. 

The first half went goal less with both the team unable to get past the net. Chelsea suffered a big blow in the 35th minute when Kevin-Prince Boateng‘s tackle injured German mid fielder Michael Ballack. WIth World Cup less than a month this can be a huge blow for him, being out of contract this may possibly be his last match for the blues. After that Drogba hit the woodwork in the 39th minute. 

Portsmouth had a brilliant chance to take the lead when Dindane skipped around Chelsea substitute Juliano Belletti and into the area and when the Brazilian bundled the Pompey striker over, referee Chris Foy pointed to the penalty spot. Unfortunately for Pompey, Boateng’s spot kick went straight down the middle of the goal and Cech saved with his feet. And just at the hour mark, Didier Drogba scored througha free kick when he shot around the wall and in off the post. Chelsea was 1-0 up which and the score line stayed till the end. The Chelsea players and fans were over joyed with the resut giving them the first ever double.

Chelsea plays Portsmouth to finish the year with a double.

Fresh from their triumph in the Barclays English Premier League, Chelsea will be hoping to finish with a double this season. The blues will be meeting Portsmouth in the final of the Football Association Cup (popularly known as the FA Cup) on saturday at the “new” Wembley Stadium. It was a long way for both the teams to reach the 129th final  where teams from all the divisions participated. 

 

News from the newly crowned Premier League champions is that they will be going with their usual squad that trounced Wigan Athletic in the final league match of the season. Beyond that Carlo Ancelotti is still waiting for Branislav Ivanovic injury report which is expected to make the trip to Wembley. Overall Chelsea has had a very good record over the Pompeys and the five times winners will be hoping to make it six and more importantly two in a row following last year’s 2-1 win over gunners. The blues lockers room is in absolute health after the decision of Frank Lampard to take penalty over in the previous match made Didier Drogba who was fighting for the golden boot.

For the Pompeys this is a big game. After relegating from the top division of the English league. the port club will be hoping to win the FA Cup twice in three years. They last won in 2008 after beating Cardiff city by a single goal. News from theri locker room is that midfielder Jamie O’Hara is hoping to play at Wembley on Saturday despite suffering with a double stress fracture in his back. The on loan player will be playing his last match with the Pompeys before moving back to Tottenham Hotspur, his original club. Other than that Avram Grant will be going with their usual squad and hope to make headlines tomorrow.

The match will start at 1500 Hours GMT (1930 Hours IST)

 

Leeds root out Manchester United from the FA Cup

FA Cup is known for its giant killing action and last night was no exception to it. In just the third round of one of the oldest tournaments of the football world, more than 100 years old, the winner of 11 FA Cups, Manchester United went out crashing in the hands of Leeds United who are currently on top in League 1. Meanwhile last year’s winners Chelsea made a perfect start to this year by hammering Watford FC by five goals. Liverpool has to get ready for a reply of their match against Reading after the match ended with a draw much to the frustration to the reds.

Old Trafford atmosphere was electrifying before the match. It was Leeds no. 9 Jermaine Beckford who scored a brilliant goal of the long pass from the centre. The goal keeper Tomasz Kuszczak was not in the right position andWes Brown late dive was of no use. The match went on and the teams went into the break with United trailing at half time.

Manchester United got there share of chances in the match. Even the return of Gary Neville couldn’t turn the tables for United. Michael Owen missed a close range shot when the ball bounced in front of him and he couldn’t adjust to it. Citing tensions Sir Alex introduced Giggs and Valencia to get the work done but it seemed like nothing is their way not even two penalties which were turned down. Wayne Rooney missed another golden opportunity 15 minutes from time as the crowded penalty area hindered the progress. Full time 0-1.
With the worst possible beginning to the year, Manchester United has to concentrate on the up coming league cupsemi final and ofcourse the premier league and the champions league. The red devils were in all praise for Leeds before the match and their thanks giving for the 2003 win over Arsenal which led to the premier league victory but now the things seems to be different…

Manchester United play Wigan, Pompey’s hosts Gunners for the year end.

For the final time in 2009 all premier league clubs will be in action over the next three days and the action is not over yet… One of the Oldest football tournaments of the world, The FA Cup will kick start 2010. More than 50 teams will be in action from all leagues in England and Wales.

First up will be Chelsea taking on Fulham on Monday for a crucial match at the top. A draw or a defeat can lead to long term complications for the leaders. Fulham on the other hand will be counting their victory over current champions Manchester United nearly a week ago, a point Chelsea will be emphasising upon. After loosing Didier Drogba and handful of other players for the African Nations Cup, Carlo Ancelotti will be seen using his alternatives for the coming matches. Tuesday will see Rafa Benitez’s Liverpool go against Aston Villa at Villa Park. Making a point that Villa is there for the Champions league berth, a win for the reds will not be an easy specially when they had a very bad last 3 months in the league which brought them down at 7th position currently.

Fresh after their victory over the tigers, Old Trafford will be hosting Wigan Athletic on Wednesday. Now with Vidicand Brown back to the squad, Sir Alex Ferguson can finally see wins coming, Hull to start with. Wayne Rooney who had many opportuinities in the previous match, will be in hunger to find more goals. Wigan on the other side is just above the relegation zone at 16th position with 19 points so they would be working hard for the elusive take of taking this fixture home. Also on the same day, Arsenal will be up against Portsmouth for a must win match for both. The former for the title and the latter to save his place in the league. So the focus shifts on the next three day. May the best team wins… Other matches over the next three days are:
Monday
Tottenham Hotspur Vs West Ham United
Blackburn Rovers Vs Sunderland
Everton Vs Burnley
Stoke City Vs Birmingham City
Wolverhampton Wanderers Vs Manchester City
Tuesday
Bolton Wanderers Vs Hull City
Wednesday
Portsmouth Vs Arsenal