It promised a lot but in the end Chelsea shut Tottenham down to claim a 2-0 win in the Capital One Cup final.
Here’s what we learned along the way.
1. Tottenham owned the arch
It was a long-running contest on Twitter, to see whose fans could tweet the most to get the Wembley arch lit up their club’s colours. Tottenham won it – but that was as good as it got.
2. Racism is probably bad
3. A final’s not a final without a floating acrobat lady
4. There’s always a silver lining
Yes, Christian Eriksen, your free-kick hit the bar when it would have given Tottenham an early lead if it had been a couple of inches lower… but look at it this way.
5. Jose Mourinho’s tactics don’t always work perfectly…
To most people’s surprise, Mourinho chose to play Kurt Zouma in midfield.
Zouma may well have been supposed to disrupt Tottenham’s midfield, but for most of the first half it wasn’t working. Spurs dominated the centre of the pitch and Zouma looked uncomfortable in the unfamiliar position.
6. …but it doesn’t matter
Chelsea presented almost no attacking threat in the first half but went in one goal up thanks to John Terry’s strike moments before the break.
Nobody expected Mourinho’s side to give up the lead after that.
But Tottenham have done more than their fair share of winning from losing positions this season, as Mourinho no doubt told his players at half-time.
7. Class is permanent
That Cesc Fabregas-Diego Costa partnership which has gone conspicuously quiet of late linked up to get Chelsea’s second – well, sort of. Costa’s off-target shot in the 56th minute got a big deflection off Kyle Walker.
Suddenly that Spurs comeback was looking very unlikely…
8. Even Harry Kane has off days
He’s been so reliable for so much of Tottenham’s season, but he was struggling to make an impact at Wembley.
9. Tottenham need more options
Chasing the game, Spurs boss Mauicio Pachettino sent his best remaining attacking options into the fray – Roberto Soldado and Erik Lamela.
10. Chelsea win when it matters
11. Nobody will ever forget *that* John Terry moment
And now nobody’s going to forget this Nemanja Matic moment.
Source: SNAPPA