Chelsea win cup after late fracas

Dmac

Chelsea win cup after late fracas



Didier Drogba grabbed both goals as Chelsea came from behind to win a Carling Cup final that ended in ugly scenes at the Millennium Stadium.

Theo Walcott gave Arsenal the lead after ghosting past Ricardo Carvalho.

But Chelsea equalised when Drogba was given the benefit of the linesman's flag to slot home and with six minutes to go he headed in a powerful winner.

A brawl erupted between the two sides late on that saw Mikel Jon Obi, Kolo Toure and Emmanuel Adebayor sent off.

It was a disappointing climax to an intriguing final and cruel luck on Arsenal's young side, who dominated for large spells in the last ever League Cup final in Cardiff.

Arsenal's outfield players had an average age of less than 21 but they showed few nerves in producing some wonderful football before eventually running out of steam.

And they fell victim to the clinical finishing of Drogba, who scored his 27th and 28th goals of the season to again deny Arsenal manager Arsene Wenger a League Cup medal.

It looked all so different early on as Chelsea's expensive line-up had few answers to Arsenal's dynamic midfield of Cesc Fabregas and Denilson.

They had Petr Cech to thank in the 11th-minute for a stunning save after Julio Baptista had drilled a shot through the legs of John Terry, who surprisingly overcame an ankle injury to play but ended the day in hospital.

Chelsea failed to clear the resulting corner and Walcott exchanged passes with Vassiriki Diaby and glided past Carvalho before keeping his cool to slot the ball past Cech.

The 17-year-old could not have chosen a better time to score his first goal for the Gunners.

Chelsea equalised in clinical but controversial fashion in the 20th minute with their first real attack on goal.

The Arsenal backline pushed up when Michael Ballack played a ball over the top for Drogba, who ran on to slip the ball under Manuel Almunia.

It was a split decision given in favour of the attacking player but Wenger spent much of the opening half displaying his anger at the linesman's failure to flag.

Arsenal continued to hit Chelsea from all angles and could have restored their lead just before half-time, but for a Carvalho intervention to deny Jeremie Aliadiere.

And the Gunners continued to look the more likely scorers after the break with Diaby denied by Cech and Fabregas shooting just the wrong side of the post.

The Blues lost skipper Terry midway through the half when he took a boot in the face from Diaby as he tried to finish off an Arjen Robben corner.

Terry looked to be knocked unconscious and had to be given oxygen on the field before being stretchered off the field and taken to hospital.

The blow seemed to fire up his team-mates and they finished strongly and Arsenal's young legs tired.

Drogba had a shot well saved by Almunia and Frank Lampard produced a dipping long-range shot that smacked against the bar.

In the 84th minute Robben's cross picked out Drogba to head past a stranded Almunia.

Shevchenko could have made the seven minutes of injury time more bearable but his drilled shot thundered back off the bar.

The game ended disappointingly in an unseemly scuffle, with several players clashing and both managers getting involved.

Over 11 minutes of added-on time was played before referee Howard Webb brought an end to proceedings, with Chelsea keeping alive their dreams of lifting four major trophies this season.

Chelsea: Cech, Diarra, Terry (Mikel 63), Carvalho, Bridge, Makelele (Robben 46), Lampard, Ballack, Essien, Shevchenko (Kalou 90), Drogba.
Subs Not Used: Hilario, Ashley Cole.

Sent Off: Mikel (90).

Booked: Essien, Carvalho, Diarra, Lampard.

Goals: Drogba 20, 84.

Arsenal: Almunia, Hoyte, Toure, Senderos, Traore (Eboue 66), Walcott, Fabregas, Denilson, Diaby (Hleb 68), Aliadiere (Adebayor 80), Julio Baptista.
Subs Not Used: Poom, Djourou.

Sent Off: Toure (90), Adebayor (90).

Booked: Denilson, Eboue, Fabregas.

Goals: Walcott 12.

Att: 70,073.

Ref: H Webb (S Yorkshire).

Credit - BBC Sport

J-M

Lampard should of been sent off to.

Dmac

Lampard should have gone and Adebayor should have stayed.

God

Super Moderator

I might be wrong but what i seen was Toure and Mikel face off. Fabregas came in, a bit aggressivly to try and break it up. Lampard shoved Fabregas then Adebayour pulled Lampard away. IMO Red card for Mikel, Toure and Lampard. Yellow for Fabregas. Adebayour should not have gotten anything so his reaction was understandable albeit a bit over the top.
Just imagine what it would have been like if Van Persie, Gallas & Cole had been playing. All out massacre. Add Lehmann.... World War 3.

Except for the last 15-20 minutes i feel Arsenal were the better side but we tired and Chelsea took advantage.

The ref for me had a poor game. He got several decisions wrong and let away Shevchenko and Mikel more than once but booked Denilson first time for a regualar foul. Free kick no card was what should have happened.

Aliadiere had an off day today but is forgiven for how well he has done in previous rounds.
Walcott stepped up to the plate and delievered. Hopefully he can keep it going.
Hleb was ineffictive when he came on and Rosicky would have been a better choice imo.
Almunia again had a solid game.
Senderos did much better against Drogba today than he has previouslly.

Terry looked a bad injury but i wont believe it until i see it. On Tuesday he went off with injured ankle ligaments. Wednesday Chelsea said he would be out for at least 4-6 weeks. Sunday he starts. Im not going to believe he is actually injured until he doesnt even make the bench for Chelsea.

Tyler Durden

I agree with that, Rosicky is a much better impact player, as he showed in the Semi, than Hleb.

I would also have preferred Adebayor have started instead of Aliadiere, but I'm guessing Arsene Wenger knows a tad more about football than I do.

Bottom line for me was Chelsea ground Arsenal down in the end, and experience told. However, Arsenal played nearly all the quality football (I do love watching them) and if they keep this group together they're in for a golden age soon.