Pro Eleven Headline News

Chelsea beats Everton 2-1 in FA Cup final

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

Louis Saha put Everton ahead after 25 seconds at Wembley, but Didier Drogba answered in the 21st minute and Frank Lampard delivered the winner with 18 minutes left when American goalkeeper Tim Howard's view was blocked by players in front of him.

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."

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

He 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 Drogba headed 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. Associated Press


Fiorentina and AC Milan do battle for an automatic Champions League spot

This final day encounter has much more riding on it than could have been expected as one club will secure an automatic Champions League group stage position while the other will have the hassle of playing in the qualifying round of the premier competition in Europe.

Fiorentina, currently in fourth, kept her chances alive with a late equalizer against Lecce last week to take advantage of rivals Milan’s defeat to Roma at the San Siro. The Viola need two win with a two-goal advantage if they are to overtake Milan in the table and make it to third place on the final week of the league season.

(Juventus are also in the mix on the final day of the Serie A season, they are in third place currently, level on points with AC Milan and play Lazio at home.”The Old Lady” have a goal difference of 37 compared to 35 for Milan and 36 for Fiorentina.

Fiorentina has done well in the absence of star striker Adrian Mutu and will probably keep on playing Cesare Prandelli's 4-2-3-1 formation with Donadel and Montolivo in the middle of the pitch, behind the attacking trio in midfield.

Juan Vargas who is usually a left back will start again on the left flank of the attacking midfield after impressing in this position recently, Steven Jovetic will continue playing instead of the sidelined Mutu. Mario Santana and Emiliano Bonazzoli are also sidelined. Felipe Melo and Dario Dainelli miss the final game due to suspension.

The Artemio Franchi stadium will be packed as Fiorentina fans are preparing a "warm" welcome to Milan, trying to push their players as much as they can as this is a season defining match for both clubs.

This is both a massive and historical match for Milan as it is also the last match of the stellar career of legendary captain Paolo Maldini. It will also probably be the last match in charge of the Rossoneri for tactician Carlo Ancelotti as coach, and as a result the end of an era at the Milan giants.

Ancelotti knows that his team holds a decent advantage going into the game but Fiorentina are strong at home. Milan will play the 4-3-1-2 formation Ancelotti has returned to lately with mega star Kaka playing in front of a central midfield trio and behind two strikers Inzaghi and Pato.

Kaladze, Nesta and Bonera are still sidelined so veteran Favalli will keep playing at center back alongside Maldini, and in midfield Milan will miss the suspended Massimo Ambrosini and Mathieu Flamini will take his place.

It is a crucial match for Milan who will affect the preparation of their next manager with a two-goal defeat. Ancelotti will be eager for the win before he moves to Chelsea and the Milan players have already stated their intention to win for Maldini so he will have a fine farewell from the game and a last match to remember.

Expected lineups:

Fiorentina (probable): Frey; Comotto, Kroldrup, Gamberini, Pasqual; Montolivo, Kuzmanovic, Semioli, Jovetic, Vargas; Gilardino

Milan (probable): Dida; Zambrotta, Favalli, Maldini, Jankulovski; Beckham, Pirlo, Flamini; Kaka, Inzaghi, Pato. imscouting.com