Source: Telegraph
FA Cup final: Chelsea v Portsmouth how the players rated
Chelsea [LNB]Petr Cech: One of the hallmarks of a good goalkeeper is the ability to produce an important save during an otherwise quiet match and Cech did just that to deprive Piquionne. 7 [LNB] Related Articles'Undertaker' Grant departs with prideCarlo Ancelotti proves he is special, tooDouble joy for ChelseaChelsea 1 Portsmouth 0John Terry hails Chelsea victory in FA Cup finalChelsea v Portsmouth: as it happenedBranislav Ivanovic: A model of consistency all season and was again defensively secure while offering a threat going forward, particularly when he presented Kalou with an excellent second-half chance. 7 [LNB]Alex: The match was largely a training exercise for Chelsea's two centre-backs, with Alex dominant in the air but occasionally vulnerable to the quick movement of Dindane and Boateng. 6 [LNB]John Terry: Untroubled defensively and almost scored with a header that looped over James and off the crossbar as Chelsea hit the frame of Portsmouth's goal five times in the first-half. 7 [LNB]Ashley Cole: This was Cole's sixth FA Cup victory; an all-time individual record. He provided Kalou with the easiest of chances and also made an important block to deprive Dindane. 7 [LNB]Michael Ballack: Involved in a succession of heated challenges before being put out of the game by Boateng's dangerous tackle. Germany will be anxiously awaiting news on his ankle injury. 6 [LNB]Salomon Kalou: Has there been a worst miss in an FA Cup final? Was presented with an open goal by Ashley Cole but somehow guided the ball on to the crossbar from the edge of the six-yard box. 5 [LNB]Frank Lampard: Smashed a swerving first-half shot beyond James but off the post and was vital in establishing Chelsea's midfield dominance. He also won and then missed a penalty. 6 [LNB]Florent Malouda: A relatively quiet match after such an excellent season, although became more dangerous as he drifted inside and got forward in a central position alongside Drogba. 6 [LNB]Nicolas Anelka: Began encouragingly, with Portsmouth struggling to pick up his runs out wide to the left but did become increasingly peripheral as the match unfolded and was substituted. 5 [LNB]Didier Drogba: The ultimate difference between the teams. Had a first-half free kick turned onto the crossbar before curling his decisive second-half effort around the wall and beyond James. 8 [LNB]Subs: Juliano Belletti replaced the injured Ballack and almost cost Chelsea when he conceded a penalty with a rash challenge on Dindane. Joe Cole also came on for Kalou, but made only a limited impact. [LNB]Carlo Ancelotti: An outstanding and historic first season in English football, with Ancelotti showing particularly admirable man-management to extract the very best from a group of established, but ageing stars. 8 [LNB]------------------------------------------------------ [LNB]Portsmouth [LNB]David James: Made one outstanding first-half save from Drogba's free-kick and will feel that his wall should have protected his far-post for Chelsea's winning goal. 7 [LNB]Steve Finnan: Came under considerable first-half pressure from Malouda and Anelka, but drew on his experience to produce a spirited defensive unit that minimised Chelsea's threat down the left. 7 [LNB]Aaron Mokoena: Made a crucial double-block from Kalou during the first-half, but then completely mistimed a tackle on Drogba to concede the free-kick from which Chelsea scored. 5 [LNB]Ricardo Rocha: Emerged from the game with credit after neutralising Drogba for long periods and often matching the Ivorian's physical presence. The difference in quality, however, was ultimately telling. 6 [LNB]Hayden Mullins: Was playing out of position at left-back and his lack of pace was occasionally evident. Rarely got forward but did help create one of Portsmouth's best chances with an excellent ball out of defence. 5 [LNB]Aruna Dindane: His pace consistently provided Portsmouth with their main threat and, while he missed plenty of half-chances himself, he did present Piquionne with an outstanding chance. 7 [LNB]Michael Brown: Made sure he got in the face of the Chelsea players literally in the case of Lampard during the opening moments of the game but the gulf in class was particularly evident in midfield. 5 [LNB]Papa Boupa Diop: Looked short of match fitness, with Chelsea constantly exploiting his relative lack of mobility. Tried to bring a physical edge to the Portsmouth team, but his tackles were frequently mistimed. 5 [LNB]Jamie O'Hara: Lucky to escape punishment for a late challenge on Ballack and was another who looked short of match fitness after playing through the pain of a double stress fracture on his back. 6 [LNB]Kevin-Prince Boateng: Could conceivably have been sent-off for a dangerous first-half tackle on Ballack and then scuffed his penalty badly. May now join Avram Grant at West Ham. 5 [LNB]Frederic Piquionne: Had Portsmouth's best chance of the match from open play, but was just unable to react quickly enough when Boateng flashed a shot across the six-yard box. 5 [LNB]Subs: John Utaka replaced a distraught Boateng while Kanu was unable to conjure a repeat of his goal in the 2008 final when making a late cameo appearance. Nadir Belhadj also came on for Mullins. [LNB]Avram Grant: Portsmouth might have looked jaded, but Grant has revitalised his reputation over the past six months and is now the clear favourite to succeed Gianfranco Zola at West Ham. 7 [LNB]
