The2009 FA Cup finalwas the 128thfinalof the world's oldest domesticfootballcup competition, theFA Cup.The final was played atWembley Stadiumin London on 30 May 2009 and marked the third time that the final has been staged at the stadium since it was rebuilt. The match was contested byChelsea,who beatArsenal2–1 in their semi-final, andEvertonwho beatManchester United4–2 on penalties after a 0–0 draw after extra time. AfterLouis Sahaopened the scoring after just 25 seconds, which is the second fastest ever goal in an FA Cup Final,Didier Drogbaequalised in the 21st minute beforeFrank Lampardscored the winner with 19 minutes left to play to give Chelsea their fifth FA Cup success.[3]
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| Event | 2008–09 FA Cup | ||||||
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| Date | 30 May 2009 | ||||||
| Venue | Wembley Stadium,London | ||||||
| Man of the Match | Ashley Cole(Chelsea)[1] | ||||||
| Referee | Howard Webb(South Yorkshire)[2] | ||||||
| Attendance | 89,391[1] | ||||||
Background
editChelsea went into the match as four-time FA Cup winners, having previously won in1970,1997,2000and2007,while Everton had won the competition five times previously, having won in1906,1933,1966,1984and1995.Coincidentally, both teams' most recent titles came in the FA Cup, both teams beatingManchester Unitedin the final; Everton in 1995 and Chelsea in 2007.
The two teams drew 0–0 in both meetings during the2008–09 Premier Leagueseason, atGoodison Parkin December and atStamford Bridgein April.[4][5]Prior to the 2009 final, the two teams had never met in theFA Cup Final;their most recent meeting in the FA Cup came in the Fourth Round of the2005–06 competition,when Chelsea won 4–1 in a replay atStamford Bridgeafter a 1–1 draw atGoodison Park.In 157 matches between the two sides in all competitions, Chelsea had recorded 61 wins, Everton had won 49, and 47 matches finished as draws.
Route to the final
edit| Chelsea | Round | Everton | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Southend United[L1] H 1–1 |
Kalou31' | Third Round | Macclesfield Town[L2] A 1–0 |
Osman43' |
| Southend United[L1] A 4–1 |
Ballack45',Kalou60',Anelka78',Lampard90' | Replay | ||
| Ipswich Town[C] H 3–1 |
Ballack16', 59',Lampard85' | Fourth Round | Liverpool[PL] A 1–1 |
Lescott27' |
| Replay | Liverpool[PL] H 1–0 |
Gosling118' | ||
| Watford[C] A 3–1 |
Anelka75', 77', 90' | Fifth Round | Aston Villa[PL] H 3–1 |
Rodwell4',Arteta24' (pen.),Cahill76' |
| Coventry City[C] A 2–0 |
Drogba15',Alex72' | Sixth Round | Middlesbrough[PL] H 2–1 |
Fellaini50',Saha56' |
| Arsenal[PL] Wembley Stadium,London 2–1 |
Malouda33',Drogba84' | Semi-finals | Manchester United[PL] Wembley Stadium,London 0–0 (4–2p) |
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- Both clubs received a bye to round three.
- In square brackets is a letter that represents the opposition's division
- [PL] =Premier League
- [C] =Championship
- [L1] =League One
- [L2] =League Two
Pre-match
editTicketing
editEverton and Chelsea were each allocated 25,109 tickets for the final. Having sold over 32,000 for their semi-final win over Manchester United, Everton were unhappy and disappointed with this allocation. The match was Everton's first FA Cup final in 14 years and Everton chief executive Robert Elstone predicted that the club could have sold in excess of 70,000 tickets for this game. Chelsea also said that the size of their allocation meant that it was unlikely that there would be sufficient tickets for all of their hospitality and non-hospitality season ticket holders.[6]
Club Wembley ten-year season ticket holders were also guaranteed a ticket for the match. After those tickets were allocated, 70% of the remaining tickets were distributed amongst the clubs that had competed in the2008–09 competition,with the other 30% given to those involved in grassroots football and the "football family".[7]
Kits
editSince both finalists' first-choice kits are predominantly blue, a coin wastossedto determine which team would have the first choice of kit. Everton won the toss and chose to wear their traditional blue kit, meaning that Chelsea would wear their all-yellow third-choice kit.[8]Chelsea were nevertheless given the "home"dressing room,i.e. that used by theEngland national team.[9]
Match ball
editThe official match ball of the 2009 FA Cup Final was theUmbro Dynamis.TheDynamisuses a 20-panel configuration, as opposed to a more traditional 32-panel design, which allegedly makes the ball faster. The surface of the ball is made from a Teijin microfibre material. TheDynamiswas also used in the 2008 final, but the 2009 version has a gold colourway.[10]
Opening ceremony
editThe traditional FA Cup Final song,Abide With Me,was performed by theLondon Community Gospel Choir.[11]Thetrophywas then brought out onto the field, followed by the two teams, before the Chief Guest of the final – formerSecretary General of the United NationsKofi Annan[12]– was introduced to the managers and players of both teams, as well as the match officials. The introductions were immediately followed by the singing of the national anthem, "God Save the Queen",sung byBritain's Got Talent 2008finalist, 13-year-oldFaryl Smith,making her the youngest performer of the national anthem at the FA Cup final.[13]
Match
editTeam selection
editEverton were without long-term injury victimsPhil Jagielka,Mikel Arteta,Yakubu Aiyegbeni,Victor AnichebeandNuno Valente.On-loan Brazilian strikerJôwas cup-tied.Andy van der Meyde,who set up the winning goal in the fourth round tie with Liverpool, had since been released by the club. This meant that there was a place on the Everton bench for 17-year-old wingerJose Baxter.
Summary
editFirst half
editLouis Sahascored for Everton with a left-footed shot to the bottom-left corner just 25 seconds into the match.[1]The previous fastest goal was byBob ChattofAston Villa30 seconds into the1895 final.[3]It would the fastest goal scored in FA Cup final history until the2023 final,whenManchester City'sİlkay Gündoğanscored after 13 seconds.Tony Hibbertreceived a yellow card for trippingFlorent Maloudain the eighth minute.[1]Didier Drogbalevelled the match for Chelsea in the 21st minute with a header set up by a left-wing cross from Malouda.[1]
Second half
editTony Hibbert was replaced byLars Jacobsenfor Everton to begin the second half,[1]and two minutes in, Toffees captain Phil Neville was booked.[1]Chelsea replacedMichael EssienwithMichael Ballackin the 61st minute,[1]followed two minutes later by a yellow card forMikel John Obi.[1]Frank Lampard scored the winning goal for Chelsea in the 72nd minute with a left foot shot.[1]Five minutes later, a shot from Malouda appeared to crash down off the bar and over the line, but it was not given.[1]Everton replaced Saha with James Vaughan at that point.[1]Dan Gosling was the last substitute for Everton in the 81st minute, replacing Leon Osman.[1]Lampard received a yellow card in the 84th minute, while in the fourth minute of added time, Leighton Baines of Everton was booked.[1]
Details
edit
          Chelsea
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     Everton
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Match officials
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Match rules
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Statistics
edit
| Chelsea | Everton | |
|---|---|---|
| Goals scored | 2 | 1 |
| Total shots | 12 | 6 |
| Shots on target | 4 | 2 |
| Ball possession | 58% | 42% |
| Corner kicks | 5 | 1 |
| Fouls committed | 12 | 17 |
| Offsides | 2 | 3 |
| Yellow cards | 2 | 3 |
| Red cards | 0 | 0 |
Records
edit- Louis Sahascored the fastest ever FA Cup Final goal when he drove home with just 25 seconds on the clock to put Everton ahead.[14]This was later broken in2023whenİlkay Gündoğanscored after 12 seconds for Manchester City against Manchester United.
- Ashley Colecollected his fifth FA Cup winners' medal, and became the first man to win the cup five times since the 19th century.[15]
- Everton's defeat meant that they finished as FA Cup runners-up for the eighth time, more than any other club.[16]
References
edit- ^abcdefghijklmn"Full-time: Chelsea 2–1 Everton".TheFA.The Football Association. 30 May 2009. Archived fromthe originalon 29 May 2009.Retrieved30 May2009.
- ^abcdeMawhinney, Stuart (21 April 2009)."Webb appointed for The Final".TheFA.The Football Association. Archived fromthe originalon 22 January 2010.Retrieved22 April2009.
- ^abCheese, Caroline (30 May 2009)."Live text – FA Cup final".BBC Sport.British Broadcasting Corporation.Archivedfrom the original on 31 May 2009.Retrieved30 May2009.
- ^Everton 0–0 Chelsea
- ^Chelsea 0–0 Everton
- ^"Everton issue Cup tickets warning".BBC Sport.British Broadcasting Corporation. 28 April 2009.Archivedfrom the original on 27 April 2009.Retrieved7 May2009.
- ^"Cup Final ticket allocations".TheFA.The Football Association. 23 April 2009. Archived fromthe originalon 28 May 2009.Retrieved30 May2009.
- ^"Yellow is the colour".ChelseaFC.Chelsea F.C. 23 April 2009.Archivedfrom the original on 26 April 2009.Retrieved23 April2009.
- ^"Chelsea 2–1 Everton".FA Cup Live.London. 30 May 2009. 86:00 minutes in. ITV.ITV1.Archived fromthe originalon 3 June 2009.Retrieved14 June2009.
- ^"The number one ball for The Final".TheFA.The Football Association. 29 May 2009. Archived fromthe originalon 12 June 2009.Retrieved30 May2009.
- ^"'Abide With Me' out now ".TheFA.The Football Association. 27 May 2009. Archived fromthe originalon 14 June 2009.Retrieved30 May2009.
- ^"Kofi Annan to attend FA Cup Final".TheFA.The Football Association. 25 April 2009. Archived fromthe originalon 15 June 2009.Retrieved30 May2009.
- ^Mawhinney, Stuart (28 May 2009)."Faryl's got the talent for The Final".TheFA.The Football Association. Archived fromthe originalon 14 June 2009.Retrieved30 May2009.
- ^Barber, David (1 June 2009)."Early goals and Chatt rooms".TheFA.The Football Association.Retrieved2 June2009.
- ^Masters, James (30 May 2009)."History man Cole".TheFA.The Football Association. Archived fromthe originalon 12 June 2009.Retrieved2 June2009.
- ^"Cup Final Statistics".TheFA.The Football Association. Archived fromthe originalon 16 June 2009.Retrieved2 June2009.
