Cup woe for Everton

30 May 2009 16:15
Guus Hiddink was handed the FA Cup as a going-away present as Chelsea recovered from conceding the fastest goal in final history to beat Everton 2-1. The contest was 25 seconds old when Louis Saha found the net for the Merseysiders. Marouane Fellaini guided Michael Essien's weak clearance into the former Manchester United man's path and he met the ball perfectly, leaving Petr Cech with not a hope of keeping it out. It was to be a high point for Everton though as Didier Drogba levelled with a powerful header from Florent Malouda`s cross. The Frenchman was allowed too much time and space to pick out his team-mate. Frank Lampard's 20-yard strike just evaded the despairing dive of Tim Howard to win it 18 minutes from time. Lampard was assisted by a slight slip as he checked inside Phil Neville - allowing him a couple of extra seconds to get a sight of Everton's goal and he duly drilled home. Chelsea were twice controversially denied a third, first when referee Howard Webb decided Malouda's effort had not crossed the line after crashing back off the crossbar when TV replays showed it had, then when the official booked Lampard for diving when Steven Pienaar had stuck out a leg for him to fall over.

Source: Eurosport