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26 February 2007, by Sean Gillen

Mourinho’s Chelsea pick up more silverware

Chelsea 2-1 Arsenal

Chelsea won the Carling Cup for the second time in three years after coming from behind to beat an impressive young Arsenal side in an eventful final on Sunday.

Didier Drogba scored twice for Jose Mourinho’s men after Arsenal’s youngsters had deservedly gone ahead through Theo Walcott, while the match finished with three sending offs as tempers flared in Cardiff.

Chelsea began as favourites, but the Premiership champions could not have expected their young opponents to have performed as well as they did in the first half. The Gunners dominated the opening twenty minutes, and controlled the majority of the half.

Petr Cech had already produced an excellent save to deny Julio Baptista, before Arsenal took the lead on twelve minutes. Seventeen-year-old Walcott played an excellent one-two with Diaby before brilliantly finishing past the Chelsea ‘keeper to cap a brilliant start from North London side.

However, as has been the case on so many occasions this season, Drogba came to the fore to draw his side level. Michael Ballack picked out the Ivorian and Drogba kept his composure to slot the ball through the legs of Manuel Almunia, although the Arsenal bench were furious that the offside flag had not been raised.

Carvalho shines

Chelsea’s defence was put under strong spells of pressure during the remainder of the half, but first-class defending by Portuguese defender Ricardo Carvalho, who produced several excellent interceptions and tackles, was a major factor in them reaching the interval on level terms.

With his side struggling to make a mark on the game, Mourinho made a substitution and tactical switch at the break. Dutch winger Arjen Robben replaced defensive midfielder Claude Makelele, as Mourinho looked to provide a stronger attacking threat.

Arsenal started the second period with much the same pressure as the first, with Cech again called upon to deny Diaby and Spanish midfielder Cesc Fabregas shooting narrowly wide of the post. However, Chelsea began to improve as the half went on, with Robben giving a more balanced look to the attack.

Mourinho was given another problem ten minutes into the second half when John Terry was knocked unconscious after being kicked in the face by Diaby as both players contested a loose ball in the area. Mourinho introduced midfielder Mikel, and once again had to deploy Essien in central defence.

Chelsea began to look the more dangerous of the two sides, and Drogba got away from Senderos before being denied by Almunia before Frank Lampard thundered a 25-metre shot off the top of the crossbar.

Drogba takes centre stage

The winning goal arrived in the 84th minute, with Drogba proving the match winner once again. Robben picked up possession on the left and floated a pinpoint cross into the box for Drogba to produce a clinical downward header into the bottom corner.

Andrei Shevchenko, quiet on the day, then struck the woodwork for Chelsea, before the game became heated during the extended period of stoppage time because of Terry’s injury.

A foul by Mikel on Kolo Toure resulted in a major scuffle and saw Mikel, Toure and Adebayor receiving their marching orders, although the third dismissal appeared somewhat harsh and drew an angry reaction from the Togo forward.

The final whistle sounded and Mourinho celebrated his fourth trophy in English football. The Blues will now focus on progressing in the Champions League and FA Cup and cutting Manchester United’s lead at the top of the Premiership.

Jose Mourinho (Chelsea manager)

“It was a pity what happened at the end. I don’t know what happened but I know it was not nice, and especially for them as they played very, very good.”

“They have a great coach, great players, but football is about winning and the cup goes to us. I think we showed character, I don’t think we played a great game.”

“It was difficult; Arsenal played a very good game in my opinion. They showed the reason why they arrived at this game.

“They beat Liverpool, Everton and Tottenham with this team and they have a great football team, but I think in the second half it was a bit different as we dominated the game, hit the post and at the end of the day I think we deserved the victory.”

Chelsea:
Cech, Diarra, Terry (Mikel 63), Carvalho, Bridge, Makelele (Robben 46), Lampard, Ballack, Essien, Shevchenko (Kalou 90), Drogba
Yellow Cards: Essien (36), Carvalho (49), Diarra (52), Lampard (98)
Red Cards: Mikel (96)

Arsenal:
Almunia, Hoyte, Toure, Senderos, Traore (Eboue 66), Walcott, Fabregas, Denilson, Diaby (Hleb 68), Aliadiere (Adebayor 80), Julio Baptista
Yellow Cards: Denilson (29), Eboue (88), Fabregas (98)
Red Cards: Toure (96), Adebayor (96)

Goals:
[0-1] Walcott, 12
[1-1] Drogba, 20
[2-1] Drogba, 84