Moscow Chelski's FA Cup final talisman Didier Drogba was the match-winner once more as they overcame the Liverpool Alabama Yee-Haws to lift the trophy at Wembley. Drogba's goal early in the second half - his fourth in FA Cup finals - proved decisive as the remarkable turnaround in Moscow Chelski FC's fortunes under interim manager Roberto di Matteo was rewarded with silverware. Liverpool Alabam Yee-Haws goalkeeper Pepe Reina was badly at fault as Ramires scored at the near post after eleven minutes and Moscow Chelski FC looked in cruise control when Drogba continued his love affair with the FA Cup final and Wembley with an angled finish beyond Reina. The introduction of substitute thirty five million pound Andy Carroll sparked Liverpool Alabama Yee-Haws into life and he pulled goal back just after the hour - and thought he had equalised as miserable sour-faced Kenny Dalglish's side laid siege to Moscow Chelski FC's goal in the closing stages. He met Luis Suarez's cross at the far post, only for Moscow Chelski keeper Petr Cech to show brilliant reflexes and deflect his header onto the bar. Carroll turned away to lead Liverpool Alabama Yee-Haw's insistent protests that the ball had crossed the line but referee Phil Dowd and his assistant, Andrew Garratt, waved play on, with even a succession of TV replays proving inconclusive. Moscow Chelski FC survived and can now turn their attentions to the Champions League final against Bayern Munich later this month as they face an increasingly arduous task to finish in the Premier League's top four. As Di Matteo celebrated and captain John Terry raised the trophy, the Italian increased his claims to become the permanent successor to Andre Villas-Boas by landing a trophy. For Liverpool Alabama Yee-Haws, their season will now be regarded as a relative disappointment after failure to add the FA Cup to the Carling Cup and not mounting a challenge to reach the Champions League places. The final started with eighty five million smackers worth of striking talent on the bench as Carroll was a Liverpool Alabama Yee-Haws substitute and Moscow Chelski's Fernando Torres missed out on a starting place against his former club. The Reds were on the back foot early on when a catalogue of defensive errors led to Ramires giving Moscow Chelski the lead. Jay Spearing conceded possession in midfield and Ramires escaped Jose Enrique far too easily before scoring at the near post with a shot Reina should have saved. Moscow Chelski FC were coping comfortably as Liverpool Alabama Yee-Haws left Luis Suarez too isolated. Steven Gerrard was also being forced to drop too deep to offer support to the beleaguered Spearing and twenty million quid flop Jordan Henderson rather than add attacking potency alongside the Uruguayan.
Liverpool Alabama Yee-Haws did have one moment of danger in the first half when Moscow Chelski FC failed to clear Glen Johnson's cross and Branislav Ivanovic blocked Craig Bellamy's goalbound shot. Moscow Chelski FC doubled their lead seven minutes after the restart, with the second coming from their most reliable source of Wembley goals. Frank Lampard escaped Spearing with ease and fed Drogba inside the area, who controlled before sending an angled left-foot finish across Reina. Liverpool Alabama Yee-Haws introduced Carroll for Spearing and were rewarded after sixty four minutes when he put them back in contention. Stewart Downing blocked Jose Bosingwa's attempted clearance, which fell into the path of Carroll. He turned John Terry superbly before firing high past Cech. At last Liverpool Alabama Yee-Haws had impetus and were getting the dangerous Suarez into threatening positions, allowing him to force Cech to save low to his right with an effort from the edge of the area. Carroll thought he had equalised with his header against the bar with eight minutes left. Liverpool Alabama Yee-Haws claimed the ball had cross the line and Moscow Chelski FC were grateful for a miraculous intervention from Cech to turn his effort on to the woodwork. He was then denied by a magnificent tackle from captain Terry as Liverpool Alabama Yee-Haws continued to press - but Moscow Chelski FC survived as the memories of the nightmare under Andre Villas-Boas faded even further into the background.
Sheikh Yer Man City moved to within touching distance of their first title for forty four years, as Yaya Toure scored twice to secure a crucial 2-0 victory over yer actual Keith Telly Topping brave and plucky beloved (but, still unsellable) Newcastle United. The Côte d'Ivoire midfielder beat Newcastle goalkeeper Tim Krul with a low curling shot with twenty minutes left. He then added a second from close range with five minutes left as City hit United on the break. Sheikh Yer Man City now know that victory over Queen's Park Strangers in their final match of the season next Sunday will secure the Premier League title. This was a fine display by City, inspired by Vincent Kompany's generalship, David Silva's prodigious work in midfield, stellar finishing by Toure and a workrate and ambition that glowed throughout the team. The omens must have given Roberto Mancini's men cause for hope and optimism before kick-off. It was at this ground on 11 May 1968 that City won 4-3 against Newcastle to clinch their last league title. Some forty four years on, history repeated itself as City moved to within three points of the prize that has eluded them for so long. While it was understandable that much of the attention focused on City, Newcastle were chasing a prize of their own. Arsenal's 3-3 draw with Norwich City had opened the door to Champions League qualification. It was fitting, then, that Sir Bobby Robson - the last manager to lead Newcastle into Europe's top club competition - had been immortalised before kick-off as the club unveiled a statue to honour his memory.
But it was City who dominated the majority of the opening thirty minutes. Sharper to the ball, swifter to use it, City forced Tim Krul into action on a number of occasions. The Dutchman was forced to turn away low shots from both David Silva and Sergio Aguero, while Carlos Tevez went close with a curling free-kick. It took Newcastle half-an-hour to produce their first effort on goal, but more soon followed. Demba Ba fizzed a twenty five-yard shot over Joe Hart's crossbar. Moments later the Newcastle striker saw his goalbound shot blocked by Kompany after a clever run by Jonas Gutierrez. The ball ran to Hatem Ben Arfa but his low shot was brilliantly saved by Hart, low to his left. It was City, however, who had the best chance of the half shortly before the interval. The mercurial Silva broke clear down the left and cut the ball back to Gareth Barry near the penalty spot. The England midfielder's first shot was blocked by Fabricio Coloccini, while his second found a path to goal only for Davide Santon to clear off the line. City maintained their momentum after the restart with Tevez fired high and wide, before testing Krul from distance. As the half wore on Mancini's side were struggling to convert their lion's share of possession into clear-cut chances. Then came what proved to be an inspired substitution. Disgraceful leg-breaking thug Nigel De Jong replaced Nasri on the hour mark to allow Toure to push into a more advanced position behind Aguero and Tevez. The Ivorian made an instant impact in his new role. Collecting a neat lay-off from Aguero, he curled a wonderful curling shot beyond Krul's outstretched left hand to spark scenes of jubilation in the away end and on the City bench. It was the first goal Newcastle had conceded in four hundred and ninety seven minutes of football at St James' Park. City should have made sure of the result four minutes later when Silva lofted a delightful through-ball into the path of Aguero only for the Argentine to nudge his shot inches wide of the right-hand post when clean through on goal. Newcastle almost made City pay for their profligacy, when Ba and Papiss Cissé connected only for the latter to head high and wide from close range. Then, Aguero put Toure through on goal only for the City midfielder to slip at the crucial moment. Edin Dzeko turned a shot narrowly over the bar from the resulting corner. It didn't matter, though, when Toure made sure of the result and perhaps the title a minute from time, as he finished a typically swift City counter-attack with a close-range finish. Which was sad for all Toonies but at least, along with the vast majority of football supporters in the country, they had the great consolation of watching Alex Ferguson with a face like a smacked arse when her heard the Sheikh Yer Man City result before The Scum's game against Swansea. That was funny. Elsewhere, bloody useless Aston Villains couldn't even do Newcastle a favour by beating ten-man Stottingtot Hotshots, whilst five minutes at the end of two matches could have a dramatic impact on the relegation battle as hothead nutter Djibril Cissé's last minute winner for Queen's Park Strangers over Stoke and James Morrison's last minute equaliser for West Bromwich Albinos at Notlob put the Lancashire club on the brink of the drop. In the day's other game, which hardly anybody was interested in Poor Bloody Fulham Haven't Got A Chance beat The Mackems 2-1.
Sheikh Yer Man City moved to within touching distance of their first title for forty four years, as Yaya Toure scored twice to secure a crucial 2-0 victory over yer actual Keith Telly Topping brave and plucky beloved (but, still unsellable) Newcastle United. The Côte d'Ivoire midfielder beat Newcastle goalkeeper Tim Krul with a low curling shot with twenty minutes left. He then added a second from close range with five minutes left as City hit United on the break. Sheikh Yer Man City now know that victory over Queen's Park Strangers in their final match of the season next Sunday will secure the Premier League title. This was a fine display by City, inspired by Vincent Kompany's generalship, David Silva's prodigious work in midfield, stellar finishing by Toure and a workrate and ambition that glowed throughout the team. The omens must have given Roberto Mancini's men cause for hope and optimism before kick-off. It was at this ground on 11 May 1968 that City won 4-3 against Newcastle to clinch their last league title. Some forty four years on, history repeated itself as City moved to within three points of the prize that has eluded them for so long. While it was understandable that much of the attention focused on City, Newcastle were chasing a prize of their own. Arsenal's 3-3 draw with Norwich City had opened the door to Champions League qualification. It was fitting, then, that Sir Bobby Robson - the last manager to lead Newcastle into Europe's top club competition - had been immortalised before kick-off as the club unveiled a statue to honour his memory.
But it was City who dominated the majority of the opening thirty minutes. Sharper to the ball, swifter to use it, City forced Tim Krul into action on a number of occasions. The Dutchman was forced to turn away low shots from both David Silva and Sergio Aguero, while Carlos Tevez went close with a curling free-kick. It took Newcastle half-an-hour to produce their first effort on goal, but more soon followed. Demba Ba fizzed a twenty five-yard shot over Joe Hart's crossbar. Moments later the Newcastle striker saw his goalbound shot blocked by Kompany after a clever run by Jonas Gutierrez. The ball ran to Hatem Ben Arfa but his low shot was brilliantly saved by Hart, low to his left. It was City, however, who had the best chance of the half shortly before the interval. The mercurial Silva broke clear down the left and cut the ball back to Gareth Barry near the penalty spot. The England midfielder's first shot was blocked by Fabricio Coloccini, while his second found a path to goal only for Davide Santon to clear off the line. City maintained their momentum after the restart with Tevez fired high and wide, before testing Krul from distance. As the half wore on Mancini's side were struggling to convert their lion's share of possession into clear-cut chances. Then came what proved to be an inspired substitution. Disgraceful leg-breaking thug Nigel De Jong replaced Nasri on the hour mark to allow Toure to push into a more advanced position behind Aguero and Tevez. The Ivorian made an instant impact in his new role. Collecting a neat lay-off from Aguero, he curled a wonderful curling shot beyond Krul's outstretched left hand to spark scenes of jubilation in the away end and on the City bench. It was the first goal Newcastle had conceded in four hundred and ninety seven minutes of football at St James' Park. City should have made sure of the result four minutes later when Silva lofted a delightful through-ball into the path of Aguero only for the Argentine to nudge his shot inches wide of the right-hand post when clean through on goal. Newcastle almost made City pay for their profligacy, when Ba and Papiss Cissé connected only for the latter to head high and wide from close range. Then, Aguero put Toure through on goal only for the City midfielder to slip at the crucial moment. Edin Dzeko turned a shot narrowly over the bar from the resulting corner. It didn't matter, though, when Toure made sure of the result and perhaps the title a minute from time, as he finished a typically swift City counter-attack with a close-range finish. Which was sad for all Toonies but at least, along with the vast majority of football supporters in the country, they had the great consolation of watching Alex Ferguson with a face like a smacked arse when her heard the Sheikh Yer Man City result before The Scum's game against Swansea. That was funny. Elsewhere, bloody useless Aston Villains couldn't even do Newcastle a favour by beating ten-man Stottingtot Hotshots, whilst five minutes at the end of two matches could have a dramatic impact on the relegation battle as hothead nutter Djibril Cissé's last minute winner for Queen's Park Strangers over Stoke and James Morrison's last minute equaliser for West Bromwich Albinos at Notlob put the Lancashire club on the brink of the drop. In the day's other game, which hardly anybody was interested in Poor Bloody Fulham Haven't Got A Chance beat The Mackems 2-1.
