score football magazine

Roberto guides Chelsea to Cup glory

Chelsea 2 Liverpool 1 FA Cup final (Wembley 5 May 2012)
Didier Drogba struck again at Wembley as Chelsea lifted the FA Cup at Liverpool's expense. The Londoners took the lead in the 11th minute when Ramires burst forward and fired past Pepe Reina at the near post and doubled their lead 7 minutes after the break when Lampard found Drogba in the box who dispatched the ball into the far corner. In the 64th minute Liverpool sub Andy Carroll picked the ball up in the box, composed himself and thumped it into the roof of the net to give the Reds hope. With 8 minutes left Petr Cech pulled off a great save pushing Carroll's powerful header onto the underside of the bar as Roberto de Mateo's team held on to lift the FA Cup denying Liverpool their 2nd trophy of the year.

didier drogba
Didier Drogba with another Wembley goal

Roy's boys' winning start


Norway 0 England 1 (Oslo friendly 26 May 2012)
Roy Hodgson began his reign as England manager with a narrow friendly win in Norway. Ashley Young found his way into the box and fired England ahead in the 9th minute to give Roy Hodgson's men the perfect start, but England failed to make further impact and ended up defending in numbers against the ineffective Norwegians whom they had not beaten in Oslo since 1966.

rune jarstein
Jarstein beaten by Ashley Young

In other friendly matches at the end of May Germany were taken apart 5-3 in Switzerland with Eren Derdiyok netting a hat-trick for the home side, though the Germans later restored some pride with a 2-0 win at home to Israel while Switzerland lost 1-0 at home to Romania. Scotland were humiliated 5-1 in the U.S.A. with a Landon Donovan hat-trick while Brazil defeated Denmark 3-1 in Germany before flying to American to give their hosts a 4-1 thumping. The Netherlands were stunned 2-1 by Bulgaria in Amsterdam, but recovered to beat Slovakia 2-0 in Rotterdam, while Spain played 2 matches in Switzerland beating Serbia 2-0 and South Korea 4-1 in the process. Portugal were held to a goalless draw at home to Macedonia while Euro 2012 co hosts Ukraine put 4 past Estonia in Austria.

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