Chelsea’s clear dominance over Portsmouth on paper was less clear on the pitch in a compelling FA Cup Final at Wembley Stadium on Saturday.

Chelsea bos Carlo Ancelotti is looking to bannish the ghost of MourinhoPremier League champions Chelsea looked very likely to stroll through the 129th FA Cup Final as they squared up against the Premier League’s last place team Portsmouth. It was an opportunity for Chelsea to win “the double,” and for manager Carlo Ancelotti to step out of the shadow of former Chelsea boss Jose Mourinho.

Underdogs Portsmouth, however, were playing for pride. Despite a horrid season of poor results, financial problems and relegation, they were clearly determined to compete on the big stage.

To no one’s surprise Chelsea dominated much of the game. To everyone’s surprise, however, Portsmouth made a game of it.

Fine goalkeeping, brave defending and woodwork contributed to an entertaining afternoon of football.

 

Blowout expected

A mismatch of Wigan-esque proportions seemed immanent early on.

Nicolas Anelka, playing on the left of the Chelsea attack, looked bright, quick and dangerous against Pompey defender Steve Finnan and the Frenchman created the first Chelsea opportunity when he cut the ball back to Frank Lampard at the top of the Pompey penalty box in the fourth minute. Lampard’s shot was struck well but flew wide.

Lampard had another opportunity in the 14th minute but his shot hit keeper David James’ left post.

A minute later a slip by Pompey defender Michael Brown in midfield allowed a Chelsea move down the left. James was called into action with a fine save off Anelka.

Chelsea danger man Didier Drogba was next to threaten in the Portsmouth penalty box as he took possession in the 21st minute following quick one-two passing work from Lampard and Kalou on the right. But Portsmouth’s Aaron Makoena blocked the big Ivorian’s shot once, then again off the rebound.

Portsmouth can attack too

Pompey then demonstrated for the first time that they were ill disposed to allow Chelsea an afternoon of target practice.

On the counterattack Kevin Prince Boateng struck a wicked volley across the mouth of the Chelsea goal. Frederic Piquionne got on the end of it and guided the ball toward the net. Chelsea keeper Petr Cech did well to get a hand on the ball and keep it out.

Chelsea should have taken the lead in the 27th minute. Ashley Cole got down the left wing and into the box. Drawing nearby defenders as well as David James toward him, he slipped the ball though to Salomon Kalou, just five yards in front of a gaping goal. Incredibly, Kalou hit the crossbar.

Three minutes later John Terry hit the Pompey crossbar with a header that had James beaten.

Retribution?

An off the ball incident with Michael Ballack earned Boateng a slap in the face, but referee Chris FoyPortsmouth's Kevin Prince Boateng didn't play nice with Michael Ballack must have missed it or the German midfielder would surely have been sent packing. The altercation would have consequences moments later, though.

Frederic Piquionne broke through in the Chelsea box and slipped the ball back to Aruna Dindane, who swung wildly and missed a fine opportunity to test Petr Cech. On the counterattack, however, Ballack went down under a heavy challenge from behind by Boateng.

Boateng was booked, but Ballack was injured and although he continued for several more minutes his day’s work was over and he was substituted for Belletti just before the half.

Chelsea press at the end of the first half

Chelsea were intent on breaching James’ goal before the half-time whistle and a Drogba free kick in the 38th minute nearly did so. David James got his hand to the ball and forced it against the crossbar. It came down on the line—shades of 1966—but no goal!

James saved another Drogba effort in the 42nd. A goalmouth melee in the 45th and another effort by Anelka in stoppage time found the Pompey defense scrambling but at the end of the half Avram Grant’s men had survived the Chelsea siege.

Second half

Whatever it was that Avram Grant said to his men at halftime it clearly made a difference. Pompey looked very energetic the first ten minutes especially, and as the half progressed they displayed an attacking spirit that had been largely absent in the first 45.

Boateng and Piquionne worked well together on the left and Dindane was proving troublesome for the Chelsea defense on the right.

A Boateng shot from a tight angle in the 51st gave Chelsea a scare but the key moment of the match came from a Pompey attack on the right side in the 55th minute.

Opportunity squandered

Steve Finnan carried the ball forward and fed it to Dindane who got around Belletti and into the Chelsea box near the goal line. Dindane was inviting contact and Belletti accepted the invitation, bringing Dindane to ground with a clumsy challenge. Penalty kick for Portsmouth.

Boateng stepped up to take the spot kick but his shot was a poor effort straight down the middle that a diving Petr Cech saved with his trailing leg.

Chelsea take the lead

Chelsea striker Didier Drogba scored the winner off a free kickA 58th minute foul on Didier Drogba resulted in a free kick that turned the match in Chelsea’s favor. Florent Malouda planted himself in the Portsmouth defensive wall and as Drogba struck the free kick Malouda vacated his position. The ball passed through the hole Malouda had left in the wall, caromed off James’ left post and went in. Chelsea 1-0 Portsmouth.

Portsmouth refused to be cowed and had an opportunity to strike back moments later when a header into the Chelsea box fell to Dindane’s feet. But the Ivorian was unable to  control the ball or guide it toward goal.

Further opportunities came from Chelsea, but their aim was off (Kalou) or James was there to save (off Drogba).

Chelsea penalty kick

Yet Chelsea should have gone two up in the 88th minute when Michael Brown brought Frank Lampard down in the box with a silly challenge. Penalty kick to Chelsea.

Normally deadly from the spot, Lampard inexplicably failed to put the ball on target, missing well wide of James’ right hand post.

The double to Chelsea and farewell to Pompey

With the 1-0 victory over Portsmouth Chelsea achieve their goal of winning the double, and perhaps now Carlo Ancelotti has exorcised the ghost of Jose Mourinho.

Portsmouth, on the other hand, now drop into the relative obscurity of League Championship football. But Avram Grant and his men can leave London with their heads held high.