Chelsea came from behind to win 2-1 at Wembley after Everton's Louis Saha had scored the fastest ever goal in an FA Cup final.
Chelsea hit back to beat Everton 2-1 at Wembley
Chelsea came from behind to win 2-1 at Wembley after Everton's Louis Saha had scored the fastest ever goal in an FA Cup final.
A tight encounter had been forecast after two goalless draws between the teams in the Premier League this season, but it took just 25 seconds for Saha to break the deadlock with a well-struck volley.
It beat Bob Chatt's 1895 mark by five seconds and gave David Moyes' underdogs the perfect start, but Chelsea quickly regained their composure and equalised through a Didier Drogba header on 21 minutes.
The Blues continued to dominate possession for the rest of the first half and nearly went ahead early in the second period when Nicolas Anelka's delicate chip dropped over the crossbar.
There were few clear-cut opportunities but both sides maintained a high tempo in soaring temperatures and the crucial goal arrived after 72 minutes as Frank Lampard crashed a powerful shot past Tim Howard from distance.
The impressive Florent Malouda was unlucky not to get a third Chelsea goal when his fantastic long-range effort hit the crossbar and appeared to bounce over the line, but in the end it mattered little as Everton struggled to apply much pressure in the closing stages.
Chelsea held on comfortably to provide Guus Hiddink with a fitting send-off in his final game in charge, while Everton's wait for a first major piece of silverware since 1995 goes on.
Early reward
After a pair of tepid semi-finals, the Wembley authorities changed the pitch and their groundsman in the hope of getting something better in place for their showpiece occasion. The reward came after exactly 25 seconds.
If there is a more unlucky player in world football at the moment than Saha, he must get some pretty bad fortune.
During a brief period on loan at Newcastle much earlier in his career, Saha was overlooked for one FA Cup final. Of the three he sat out at Manchester United, he was fit for just one - in 2004, but he was ineligible.
In addition to that, a booking during a brief substitute appearance in the World Cup semi-final in Germany three years ago meant he was suspended for France's eventual defeat by Italy.
So there was a fair bit of venom in his left foot when Marouane Fellaini guided Michael Essien's weak clearance into the former Manchester United man's path. Saha met the ball perfectly, leaving Petr Cech with not a hope of keeping it out.
The Everton supporters, far more noisy than their Chelsea counterparts anyway, erupted in joy, daring to believe this year, as in their last appearance 14 seasons ago, they would leave Wembley as winners.
If there is a downside to scoring quite so early, it is the length of time left to hang on.
Everton did try to keep pushing forward. It was just that they were not allowed to as Chelsea shook off that massive initial disappointment and slowly but purposefully turned the screw.
Tony Hibbert is what is known in the trade as an honest professional. Dedicated to his task, what he lacks in ability, he tries to make up for in effort. Sometimes though, it is not enough.
Booked after eight minutes for a needless ankle tap on Malouda, he was then repeatedly exposed by the French wideman, a clear case of Chelsea targeting an individual within opposition ranks.
More than any other player, Malouda has benefited from working with Hiddink and the Dutchman's departure for Moscow will be keenly felt
