LONDON, May 5 (Reuters) – Chelsea’s remarkable turnaround since Roberto Di Matteo took over as interim coach has taken them to the brink of a cup double after they beat a disappointing Liverpool side 2-1 with goals from Ramires and Didier Drogba on Saturday.

Their victory at Wembley Stadium in a match they dominated for the first hour keeps the London side’s momentum going for what could be an even greater triumph in the Champions League final against Bayern Munich in two weeks’ time.

A season that seemed destined to end in failure under coach Andre Villas-Boas could now finish as the most successful in the club’s history if they become European champions.

Andy Carroll’s 64th minute strike for Liverpool brought the game to life for the last half-an-hour after Chelsea appeared to be coasting to a seventh FA Cup success and their fourth in six seasons but Di Matteo’s side hung on to claim the spoils.

The club’s campaign has been transformed under Di Matteo - who never lost at Wembley as a player – with just two defeats in 18 matches although he is still only their caretaker boss.

“I’m fortunate enough to have played for the club and won the trophy and today I led the players out … not many people get that chance,” said a beaming Di Matteo.

This victory and another against Bayern in Munich on May 19 would make it seem almost impossible for Russian billionaire owner Roman Abramovich to give the job to anyone else although with Chelsea, as ever, the future is uncertain.

LONDON, May 5 (Reuters) – Chelsea’s remarkable turnaround since Roberto Di Matteo took over as interim coach has taken them to the brink of a cup double after they beat a disappointing Liverpool side 2-1 with goals from Ramires and Didier Drogba on Saturday.

Their victory at Wembley Stadium in a match they dominated for the first hour keeps the London side’s momentum going for what could be an even greater triumph in the Champions League final against Bayern Munich in two weeks’ time.

A season that seemed destined to end in failure under coach Andre Villas-Boas could now finish as the most successful in the club’s history if they become European champions.

Andy Carroll’s 64th minute strike for Liverpool brought the game to life for the last half-an-hour after Chelsea appeared to be coasting to a seventh FA Cup success and their fourth in six seasons but Di Matteo’s side hung on to claim the spoils.

The club’s campaign has been transformed under Di Matteo - who never lost at Wembley as a player – with just two defeats in 18 matches although he is still only their caretaker boss.

“I’m fortunate enough to have played for the club and won the trophy and today I led the players out … not many people get that chance,” said a beaming Di Matteo.

This victory and another against Bayern in Munich on May 19 would make it seem almost impossible for Russian billionaire owner Roman Abramovich to give the job to anyone else although with Chelsea, as ever, the future is uncertain.

LONDON, May 5 (Reuters) – Chelsea survived a late Liverpool fightback to win the FA Cup final 2-1 on Saturday and lift the trophy for the fourth time in six seasons thanks to goals from Ramires and Didier Drogba.

Chelsea dominated the first half and led through an 11th-minute goal by Ramires and Drogba’s clinical strike early in the second half put the London club on course for what appeared to be a comfortable win.

But the introduction of Liverpool substitute Andy Carroll after 55 minutes transformed the game. He pulled one goal back and almost equalised with a powerful header seven minutes from time when Chelsea keeper Petr Cech clawed the ball out just before it crossed the line and pushed it on to the crossbar.

Drogba became the first player in the 141-year history of the FA Cup to score in four finals and John Terry also added his name to the competition’s rich folklore when he became the first player to captain four final-winning teams for 130 years and the first to do so with one club.

“This is what we play football before,” Terry told ITV. “It was a great performance. When the chips are down we come together and we have done that superbly this season.”

Ashley Cole, who had already won the FA Cup six times, three times with Arsenal and three with Chelsea, extended that record to seven winner’s medals.

Cole told BBC Five Live: “It is incredible, I feel very humbled by what I have achieved in the FA Cup and hopefully there is more to come. It also gives us great confidence for the Champions League final in two weeks time.”

LONDON (Reuters) – Chelsea survived a late Liverpool fightback to win the FA Cup final 2-1 on Saturday and lift the trophy for the fourth time in six seasons thanks to goals from Ramires and Didier Drogba.

Chelsea dominated the first half and led through an 11th-minute goal by Ramires and Drogba’s clinical strike early in the second half put the London club on course for a comfortable win.

But Liverpool substitute Andy Carroll pulled one goal back and the lanky striker almost equalised with a powerful header, Chelsea keeper Petr Cech clawing the ball out just before it crossed the line and pushing it on to the crossbar.

Drogba became the first player in the 141-year history of the FA Cup to score in four finals and John Terry also added his name to the competition’s rich folklore when he became the first player to captain four final-winning teams.

“This is what we play football before,” Terry told ITV. “It was a great performance. When the chips are down we come together and we have done that superbly this season.”

It was another triumph for Chelsea caretaker manager Roberto Di Matteo who took over in March following the sacking of Andre Villas-Boas and has also led his side to the Champions League final.

Chelsea took the early advantage when they pounced on a mistake by Liverpool’s Jay Spearing who lost possession in midfield to Juan Mata.

LONDON, May 5 (Reuters) – Chelsea survived a late Liverpool fightback to win the FA Cup final 2-1 on Saturday and lift the trophy for the fourth time in six seasons thanks to goals from Ramires and Didier Drogba.

Chelsea dominated the first half and led through an 11th-minute goal by Ramires and Drogba’s clinical strike early in the second half put the London club on course for a comfortable win.

But Liverpool substitute Andy Carroll pulled one goal back and the lanky striker almost equalised with a powerful header, Chelsea keeper Petr Cech clawing the ball out just before it crossed the line and pushing it on to the crossbar.

Drogba became the first player in the 141-year history of the FA Cup to score in four finals and John Terry also added his name to the competition’s rich folklore when he became the first player to captain four final-winning teams.

“This is what we play football before,” Terry told ITV. “It was a great performance. When the chips are down we come together and we have done that superbly this season.”

It was another triumph for Chelsea caretaker manager Roberto Di Matteo who took over in March following the sacking of Andre Villas-Boas and has also led his side to the Champions League final.

Chelsea took the early advantage when they pounced on a mistake by Liverpool’s Jay Spearing who lost possession in midfield to Juan Mata.

LONDON (Reuters) – Chelsea and Liverpool left 85 million pounds ($137.35 million)worth of striking talent out of their starting line-ups with Fernando Torres and Andy Carroll named as substitutes for the FA Cup final at Wembley Stadium on Saturday.

Torres, who moved from Liverpool to Chelsea in January 2011 for 50 million pounds and who has scored four goals in his last two matches, started the last two games but Didier Drogba was named up front supported by Salomon Kalou and Juan Mata.

Drogba has scored three goals in the three FA Cup finals Chelsea have won in the last six seasons and could close in on Ian Rush’s all-time record of five final goals for Liverpool if maintains his record of scoring in every competitive match he has played at Wembley.

John Terry, suspended for the Champions League final on May 19, also has a chance of making history for Chelsea by becoming the first player to captain his team to four FA Cup final successes.

Steven Gerrard will skipper Liverpool but there was no place for Liverpool veteran Jamie Carragher who was named among the substitutes.

Liverpool are chasing the second leg of a domestic Cup double after winning the League Cup in February. Chelsea are hoping for the first leg of their own double which they hope to complete with victory in the Champions League final against Bayern Munich in Munich.

Teams

LONDON, May 5 (Reuters) – Chelsea and Liverpool left 85 million pounds ($137.35 million)worth of striking talent out of their starting line-ups with Fernando Torres and Andy Carroll named as substitutes for the FA Cup final at Wembley Stadium on Saturday.

Torres, who moved from Liverpool to Chelsea in January 2011 for 50 million pounds and who has scored four goals in his last two matches, started the last two games but Didier Drogba was named up front supported by Salomon Kalou and Juan Mata.

Drogba has scored three goals in the three FA Cup finals Chelsea have won in the last six seasons and could close in on Ian Rush’s all-time record of five final goals for Liverpool if maintains his record of scoring in every competitive match he has played at Wembley.

John Terry, suspended for the Champions League final on May 19, also has a chance of making history for Chelsea by becoming the first player to captain his team to four FA Cup final successes.

Steven Gerrard will skipper Liverpool but there was no place for Liverpool veteran Jamie Carragher who was named among the substitutes.

Liverpool are chasing the second leg of a domestic Cup double after winning the League Cup in February. Chelsea are hoping for the first leg of their own double which they hope to complete with victory in the Champions League final against Bayern Munich in Munich.

Teams

LONDON (Reuters) – Either Fernando Torres of Chelsea or Andy Carroll of Liverpool, who have both hugely under-achieved since their record-breaking transfers last year, will claim one of English soccer’s major prizes when their teams meet in the FA Cup final on Saturday.

Torres, at least, has recently shown glimpses of why Chelsea paid 50 million pounds ($81.10 million) to Liverpool for him in January last year – a record fee between British clubs.

The Spaniard has scored four goals in his last three games, including last week’s solo effort at Barcelona which sealed Chelsea’s place in the Champions League final on May 19.

He also scored his first hat-trick for Chelsea in their 6-1 win over Queens Park Rangers on Sunday but failed to hit the net in Wednesday’s 2-0 home defeat by Newcastle United and in total has scored only 12 times for Chelsea.

Carroll became the most expensive British player of all time when Liverpool paid Newcastle United 35 million pounds for him to replace Torres, but has scored only 11 goals in 54 matches for Liverpool since.

At least his late header against Everton in the semi-final at Wembley three weeks ago guaranteed Liverpool a return to the London stadium for the final.

Now the two strikers, both dropped from their national sides and both remarkably unproductive in front of goal, have the chance of lasting redemption and a place in their club’s folklore as an FA Cup winner.

LONDON, May 3 (Reuters) – Either Fernando Torres of Chelsea or Andy Carroll of Liverpool, who have both hugely under-achieved since their record-breaking transfers last year, will claim one of English soccer’s major prizes when their teams meet in the FA Cup final on Saturday.

Torres, at least, has recently shown glimpses of why Chelsea paid 50 million pounds ($81.10 million) to Liverpool for him in January last year – a record fee between British clubs.

The Spaniard has scored four goals in his last three games, including last week’s solo effort at Barcelona which sealed Chelsea’s place in the Champions League final on May 19.

He also scored his first hat-trick for Chelsea in their 6-1 win over Queens Park Rangers on Sunday but failed to hit the net in Wednesday’s 2-0 home defeat by Newcastle United and in total has scored only 12 times for Chelsea.

Carroll became the most expensive British player of all time when Liverpool paid Newcastle United 35 million pounds for him to replace Torres, but has scored only 11 goals in 54 matches for Liverpool since.

At least his late header against Everton in the semi-final at Wembley three weeks ago guaranteed Liverpool a return to the London stadium for the final.

Now the two strikers, both dropped from their national sides and both remarkably unproductive in front of goal, have the chance of lasting redemption and a place in their club’s folklore as an FA Cup winner.

LONDON (Reuters) – England return to the European Championship after an eight-year absence with new manager Roy Hodgson hoping to improve on what is a woeful record in the finals for one of Europe’s traditional stronger soccer nations.

England are the only European country to have won the World Cup but never be crowned European champions and there are very few indicators suggesting that England’s disappointing European record will improve this summer.

Whether Hodgson, 64, named on May 1 as England’s new permanent manager following the departure of Fabio Capello in February, can bring success remains one of the many unanswered questions facing the Three Lions next month.

In eight finals appearances since 1968 they have only reached the semi-finals twice: in 1968, when only four teams took part in Italy and in 1996 when they hosted the tournament.

Now, with only weeks to go before their Group D campaign kicks off against France in Donetsk, Ukraine, on June 11, the responsibility for picking the squad and the team has passed from caretaker Stuart Pearce, to Hodgson, who is expected to name his squad next week.

SELF RESPECT

The immediate target for Hodgson is to ensure there is no repeat of England’s dismal performances at the 2010 World Cup finals where they went out to Germany in the last 16 after suffering their worst ever World Cup defeat – a 4-1 thrashing.