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Chelsea beats Everton 2-1 in FA Cup final
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Sat, 30 May 2009 10:18:00 GMT 

Wembley (AP) — Chelsea recovered after conceding the fastest goal in FA Cup final history, beating Everton 2-1 Saturday to win the trophy a fifth time.

Louis Saha put Everton ahead after 25 seconds at Wembley, but Didier Drogba tied the score in the 21st minute and Frank Lampard delivered the winner with 18 minutes left.

Chelsea won its first trophy in two years and gave manager Guus Hiddink the perfect farewell before he resumes his job as coach of the Russian national team.

"We were very tough and the team has showed after a setback they react always, which is what I like," Hiddink said. "It was one of the biggest, a big achievement: winning in the Mecca of world football. The FA Cup is something you cannot believe."

On the record goal, a header by Chelsea midfielder John Obi Mikel wasn't cleared properly and Marouane Fellaini headed to Saha just inside the penalty area. The France striker turned and smashed a shot past goalkeeper Petr Cech.

Saha beat the previous quickest goal in a Wembley final by 18 seconds and was five seconds quicker than the winner Bob Chatt scored for Aston Villa in the 1895 FA Cup final, which was played at Crystal Palace in south London.

The goal gave Everton hope of a first trophy since the 1995 FA Cup. But Florent Malouda collected Lampard's looping pass out of a crowd and sent in a curling cross that the unmarked Drogba met with a header into the back of the net.

It was Drogba's second FA Cup final — he scored the extra-time winner in Chelsea's 2007 victory over Manchester United.

Lampard made it 2-1 from just outside the penalty area with a firm shot past American goalkeeper Tim Howard, whose view was blocked by players in front of him.

"I thought we were having our best spell when they got their goal from Frank Lampard," Everton manager David Moyes said. "He's a big player and he scores goals, and that's what he did."

The victory could have been more convincing had Malouda been awarded a goal in the 78th minute. His 30-yard shot hit the bar and bounced down, but the referee could not tell whether the ball had gone over the line as television replays indicated.

The Chelsea fans cheered each player as he lifted the famous cup but reserved the loudest noise for Hiddink, who coached the team on a temporary basis for four months.

Chelsea and Everton played to scoreless draws in both their Premier League games this season. Chelsea finished 20 points and two places above Everton.

"It's been a great season, finishing fifth in the Premier League and reaching the final, but it leaves a bitter taste," Everton midfielder Tim Cahill said. "But it's an experience I can take forward in the coming years."

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