Didier Drogba's 59th-minute free kick decided a strange FA Cup final at Wembley Stadium as Chelsea won, 1-0 over plucky Portsmouth.
The victory completed the double for Chelsea, who last week won the Premier League title. For Pompey, set for relegation and still floating in financial straits, the loss ended their bid to add a surprising bit of silverware at the end of a trying, turbulent season.
Chelsea dominated play from the beginning, hitting the woodwork no less than five times in the first half. But it was Portsmouth who should've taken the lead in the 55th minute. A sloppy tackle in the box by defender Júliano Belletti on Aruna Dindane handed Portsmouth a penalty. Kevin-Prince Boateng took the shot, but it was a poor one and goalkeeper Petr Cech was able to kick it away relatively simply.
Four minutes later, Chelsea had their lead. From about 25 yards out, Drogba curled his freekick around the wall, catching keeper David James leaning, and the ball bounced in off the inside of the post.
"It's fantastic we achieved the double," Drogba said. "It was difficult to come back and stay focused for this game because last week we celebrated the title. You start to think that you won't score ... I saw a little gap. I hit the post again, but it went in this time."
Frank Lampard missed a late penalty to ice the game, but the damage was done and Chelsea lifted the 129th FA Cup trophy.
Sidenote: There was some interesting news for fans of the US national team to come out of the final. Algerian midfielder/defender Nadir Belhadj returned from a two-month injury layoff. He subbed on for Portsmouth in the 82nd minute and looked dangerous on the left wing, whipping in two threatening crosses that should've been finished. The US face Algeria on June 23 in the third match of Group C play at the World Cup.
