Guus leaves Chelsea with cup
Chelsea 2 Everton 1 (FA Cup final Wembley 30 May 2009)
Chelsea overcame the quickest goal in the history of the FA Cup with a goal in each half to win silverware for Guus Hiddink in his last match in charge of the club. Everton got off to a flying start when Fellaini won a header in the box with the ball falling to Saha who volleyed past Petr Cech after only 25 seconds. Didier Drogba rose in the 21st minute to pick the corner of the net with an emphatic header and level the score for Chelsea. Malouda released Anelka on the hour-mark but the Frenchman lifted the ball over the keeper and the crossbar. Seven minutes later a Saha header flew over the bar at the other end for Everton. Frank Lampard let fly in the 72nd minute to win the match for the Londoners. Malouda came close to increasing the deficit but lifted the ball over the bar from close range in the 75th minute, and was unlucky not to get on the score sheet 3 minutes later when he struck a tremendous shot which came off the underside of the crossbar and was adjudged not to have crossed the goal-line. The victory for Chelsea handed Ashley Cole a record 5th FA Cup winners' medal.
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Guus Hiddink leads Chelsea
to FA Cup glory |
Barcelona best in Europe
Barcelona 2 Manchester United 0 (Campions League final Rome 27 May 2009)
In the much awaited battle for European club supremacy, Manchester United started brightly with trigger-happy Ronaldo threatening Barcelona in the early stages but the Catalan side scored with their first attack of the match in the 10th minute when Samuel Eto'o cut inside Vidic and beat van der Sar at the near post.
Thierry Henry got into the box in the 50th minute but saw his effort blocked by the legs of van der Sar. Four minutes later Xavi hit the base of the United post from a free-kick but with 20 minutes remaining his cross was met by little Lionel Messi's leaping header who found the corner of the net with the side of his head to secure the cup for Barcelona.
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Messi header seals European glory for Barca |
Burnley join big boys
Burnley 1 Sheffield United 0 (Wembley 25 May 2009)
With Wolves and Birmingham having already gained promotion to the Premier League, Sheffield Untied and Burnley met at Wembley for the final place in the highest tier of English football. Wade Elliott received the ball back after a long run and curled it over and beyond Kenny in the United goal to give Burnley a 13th minute lead. Ten minutes into the second half a cross to the far post was headed back across the goal for Gudjonsson to knock in from close range, but Montgomery got in the way to deny Burnley a second. Thompson broke free in the 66th minute and squared the ball to Robbie Blake who was about to pull the trigger when the speedy Kyle Walker made a brilliant last ditch tackle to keep the game alive. Sheffield United made matters harder for themselves when substitute Jamie Ward was dismissed after picking up a 2nd yellow in 4 minutes for a deliberate handball in front of the Burnley goal with 11 minutes remaining. The final whistle signalled the end of Burnley's 33-year wait for a return to the top flight of English football.
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Elliott strike gives Burnley Premier spot |
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