FA Cup final: Chelsea v Portsmouth

Young Portsmouth fans outside the ground looking forward to the match Photograph: Tom Jenkins for the Observer Photograph: guardian.co.uk The excitement was too much for this young Chelsea fan as he got to Wembley hours before the kick-off Photograph: Tom Jenkins for the Observer Photograph: guardian.co.uk Anthony Vanden Borre photographs team-mate Frédéric Piquionne as they soak up the pre-match atmosphere Photograph: Tom Jenkins for the Observer Photograph: guardian.co.uk Fans from both teams head up Wembley Way Photograph: Tom Jenkins for the Observer Photograph: guardian.co.uk The Band of the Coldstream Guards prepare for their traditional marching parade on the pitch an hour and a quarter before kick-off Photograph: Tom Jenkins for the Observer Photograph: guardian.co.uk Two Chelsea fans record the day for posterity Photograph: Tom Jenkins for the Observer Photograph: guardian.co.uk Whereas the Portsmouth fans use the occasion to make an appeal for an owner, though the owner will need very deep pockets Photograph: Tom Jenkins for the Observer Photograph: guardian.co.uk Having put their advert up, the Pompey fans get into a bit of flag waving Photograph: Tom Jenkins for the Observer Wembley is packed to the rafters and a cacophony of noise as the players come out before kick-off Photograph: Tom Jenkins for the Observer Photograph: guardian.co.uk The national anthem is sung by Faryl Smith Photograph: Tom Jenkins for the Observer Photograph: guardian.co.uk The game kicks off and there's some early Chelsea pressure as Ashley Cole throws the ball to Nicolas Anelka Photograph: Tom Jenkins for the Observer Photograph: guardian.co.uk Alex cracks a shot at goal Photograph: Tom Jenkins for the Observer Petr Cech makes a stunning one-handed reaction save from Frédéric Piquionne's close-range effort ... Photograph: Tom Jenkins for the Observer Photograph: guardian.co.uk ... to the disbelief of the Portsmouth supporters behind the goal Photograph: Tom Jenkins for the Observer Photograph: guardian.co.uk Didier Drogba fends off a Papa Bouba Diop challenge Photograph: Tom Jenkins for the Observer Photograph: guardian.co.uk Ashley Cole pulls the ball back to an unmarked Salomon Kalou, who hits the bar from only four yards out with the goal gaping Photograph: Tom Jenkins for the Observer Photograph: guardian.co.uk Drogba and Kalou can't believe the miss – it would have been easier to score Photograph: Tom Jenkins for the Observer Photograph: guardian.co.uk John Terry rises up and gets his head to the ball but his effort smacks against the bar Photograph: Tom Jenkins for the Observer Photograph: guardian.co.uk Michael Ballack takes on a posse of Portsmouth players, with Kevin-Prince Boateng leading the protesters Photograph: Tom Jenkins for the Observer Photograph: guardian.co.uk Drogba runs off, thinking he's scored from his 35 yard free-kick ... Photograph: Tom Jenkins for the Observer Photograph: guardian.co.uk ... but David James performs an amazing save, touching Drogba's goalbound free-kick on to the bar, the ball then bouncing down on to the line before being scrambled out of harm's way Photograph: Tom Jenkins for the Observer Photograph: guardian.co.uk Drogba leaps over James after his toe-poke shot comes back off the post Photograph: Tom Jenkins for the Observer Photograph: guardian.co.uk The Chelsea forward can't believe the woodwork has come to Pompey's rescue for the fifth time in the first half Photograph: Tom Jenkins for the Observer Photograph: guardian.co.uk Michael Ballack looks to be in a whole world of pain after being crunched by Boateng a whole three minutes after their confrontation. What is that saying about revenge? Photograph: Tom Jenkins for the Observer Photograph: guardian.co.uk In the 55th minute Aruna Dindane scampers down the right and into the penalty area where Juliano Belletti brings him down, giving away a penalty. A chance for Pompey – which is thrown away by Boateng as he scuffs his shot low and straight down the middle allowing Cech to save with his feet Photograph: Tom Jenkins for the Observer Photograph: guardian.co.uk After the penalty miss, you could have guessed what would happen next ... Chelsea get a free kick 25 yards out, Drogba steps up and hits a low, side-footed free-kick which wobbled and dipped on it's way to beating the despairing dive of James, before clipping his far post and nestling in the net. That's 1-0 to Chelsea Photograph: Tom Jenkins for the Observre Photograph: guardian.co.uk James buries his face as Drogba celebrates his strike ... Photograph: Tom Jenkins for the Observer Photograph: ./guardian.co.uk Drogba basks in the glory Photograph: Tom Jenkins for the Observer Photograph: guardian.co.uk Juliano Beletti and Jamie O'Hara take a tumble Photograph: Tom Jenkins for the Observer With Chelsea having the lion's share of the possession in the last quarter of the match these Portsmouth fans fear the worst Photograph: Tom Jenkins for the Observer Photograph: guardian.co.uk With just two minutes to go Lampard bursts into the Pompey box where Michael Brown needlessly bundles him over ... Photograph: Tom Jenkins for the Observer Photograph: guardian.co.uk ... and the referee points to the spot. Penalty to Chelsea and a chance for them to seal the victory Photograph: Tom Jenkins for the Observer Photograph: guardian.co.uk Lampard picks himself up before striking the ball low and hard to James's right... Photograph: Tom Jenkins for the Observer Photograph: guardian.co.uk ... but as well as placing it wide of James's dive it is also wide of the post. Lampard now has the dubious honour of being the first person since 1913 to not hit the target with a penalty in the FA Cup final. Can Pompey hit back from this let off and force the game into extra time? Photograph: Tom Jenkins for the Observer Photograph: guardian.co.uk Unfortunately they can't and the final whistle goes and Ricardo Rocha and Jamie O'Hara sink to their knees Photograph: Tom Jenkins for the Observer Photograph: guardian.co.uk Boateng, centre, still looks shell-shocked after his terrible penalty miss and Piquionne, second left, appears distraught as they return to the pitch after receiving their losers medals Photograph: Tom Jenkins for the Observer Photograph: guardian.co.uk ... and James looks dejected too Photograph: Tom Jenkins for the Observer Photograph: guardian.co.uk Chelsea's players lift the Cup and achieve an historic Double Photograph: Tom Jenkins for the Observer Photograph: guardian.co.uk Carlo Ancelotti carries the trophy down from the Royal Box. Not a bad haul for his first year at the club – Premier League title and FA Cup. You wouldn't begrudge the Chelsea boss thinking "Who's the Special One now?" Photograph: Tom Jenkins for the Observer Photograph: guardian.co.uk Then the celebrations begin ... Photograph: Tom Jenkins for the Observer Photograph: guardian.co.uk ... and go on Photograph: Tom Jenkins for the Observer Photograph: guardian.co.uk ... and on Photograph: Tom Jenkins for the Observer Photograph: guardian.co.uk