1st Trophy in Five Years for Chelsea

The game had everything. Goals including an own goal, missed chances, excellent goalkeeping, drama, excitement, bookings, a sending off, and extra time.

Liverpool could not have got off to a better start. Straight from the kick off, attacking the end where the Chelsea supporters were, Liverpool kept possession and the ball found itself on the Chelsea right at the feet of Morientes. Remember him. The man that destroyed Chelsea in last season's Champions League Semi-Final. The whole of the Chelsea defence was pulled over to the right side of the pitch, as Morientes placed a high cross over, the ball sailed over Ferreira's head to an unmarked Riise who hit an unstoppable volley into the net past a bemused Cech. Cech's first touch was to pick the ball out of the net.

With all the media and press coverage this week saying that Chelsea were feeling the pressure, going a goal down so early was the worse thing that could have possibly happened. However once Chelsea had picked themselves up and dusted themselves down and started to play football, they kept Liverpool on the defensive. How Chelsea did not equalise earlier then they did was purely down to Dudek. He saved brilliantly from Drogba, Gudjohnsen, Gallas and Duff on at least three occasions, and Dudek can count himself unlucky that he was beaten finally twelve minutes from time by one of his own players. A miskicked free-kick from Ferreira, whose performance improved greatly in the second half after a shaky start, sailed into the Liverpool penalty area. With three Liverpool players rising to clear the ball, Gerrard was the highest riser and the ball skimmed on his head and into the net via the post. Some might say that Gerrard's own goal could be his first for his 'new' club. It was at this point that Mourinho stalked up and down the touchline in front of the Liverpool fans, with a finger up to his mouth, gesturing ssssssh or keep quiet. This action caused the referee co-ordinator to send Mourinho down the tunnel.

In between Liverpool looked unfortunate not to have been awarded a penalty when Makelele and Gerrard went tumbling in the box. Hamman had a long range effort brilliantly saved by Cech, who to be fair was a virutal spectator throughout in a game that was dominated by Chelsea's possession. Prior to Chelsea's equaliser Liverpool broke down the Chelsea left and Ferreira brilliantly tackled Gerrard in the six yard box before they both watched the ball slide close past the Chelsea post. Instead of being 2-0, Gerrard at the other end levelled the scores.

And so into extra-time. Chelsea kept up their possession rate and always looked like the team that was going to win in the end. And so it proved. In the first period of extra-time, Drogba hit the post with a header from Duff's cross. Two minutes into the second period of extra time, Chelsea won a throw deep inside the Liverpool half. Glenn Johnson, on as a substitute, threw the ball long into the Liverpool penalty area, the ball landed on Drogba's thigh and he swiftly turned it into the net under a despairing dive from Dudek. Six minutes later, Lampard took a free-kick which Dudek could only parry away, Gudjohnsen controlled the ball, hit it back into the six yard area, the ball bounced off Dudek's chest, Kezman gleefully stuck out a foot to put Chelsea 3-1 up. That goal was only Kezman's fourth of the season.

Two minutes later, Nunez turned a header into the net to make it 3-2, although it makes no difference now, personally I thought that Cech was fouled.

And so it was. Chelsea held out, won the game 3-2, JT went up to collect the Carling Cup and Mr A looked a very pleased man indeed.

ONWARDS and UPWARDS - Next stop the Premiership!

For those who have doubted Chelsea's character this week. Sit up and take note. This performance today has PROVED that Chelsea has the character, has the stomach, and the mettle to go on and win the Premiership.

CONGRATULATIONS to John Terry who was voted the Man of the Match and received the Alan Hardaker Trophy.

v Man Utd (L) W1-0

v Birmingham (L) W1-0

v C Palace (L) W2-0

v Southampton (L) W2-1

v Aston Villa (L) D0-0

v PSG (CL) W3-0

v Spurs (L) D0-0

v Middlesbrough (L) W1-0

v Porto (CL) W3-1

v Liverpool (L) W1-0

v Man City (L) L0-1

v CSKA Moscow (CL) W2-0

v Blackburn Rovers (L) W4-0

v West Ham Utd (CC) W1-0

v WBA (L) W4-1

v CSKA Moscow (CL) W1-0

v Everton (L) W1-0

v Newcastle Utd (CC) W2-0

v Fulham (L) W4-1

v Bolton (L) D2-2

v PSG (CL) D0-0

v Charlton Athletic (L) W4-0

v Fulham (CC) W2-1

v Newcastle Utd (L) W4-0

v Porto (CL) L1-2

v Arsenal (L) D2-2

v Norwich City (L) W4-0

v Aston Villa (L) W1-0

v Portsmouth (L) W2-0

v Liverpool (L) W1-0

v Middlesbrough (L) W2-0

v Scunthorpe Utd (FAC) W3-1

v Man Utd (CC) D0-0

v Tottenham Hotspur (L) W2-0

v Portsmouth (L) W3-0

v Man Utd (CC) W2-1

v Birmingham City (FAC) W2-0

v Blackburn Rovers (L) W1-0

v Man City (L) D0-0

v Everton (L) W1-0

v Newcastle Utd (FAC) L0-1

v Barcelona (CL) L1-2

v Liverpool (CCF) W3-2