2007年5月21日 格林尼治标准时间15:44更新

Drogba Snatches the Cup 德罗巴抢夺足总杯

Chelsea’s star striker Didier Drogba sealed a late victory 最后时刻进球奠定胜局 in Saturday’s FA Cup final against Manchester United with a stunning extra-time goal.

Drogba’s 116th minute strike meant the first cup final to be held in the new Wembley Stadium was not decided by a penalty shootout 点球大战.

Hopes had been high for a classic match between the two best teams in the English league, but the game turned out to be a cautious, cagey affair 小心谨慎的局面 as Chelsea strived 努力 to prevent Manchester from playing their usual attacking game 进攻性比赛.

Chelsea manager Jose Mourinho admitted his tactics 战术 were designed to stifle 抑制 Manchester United. "We know the way they play and we didn’t give them that game," said Mourinho.

For the Chelsea manager winning the game was more important than putting on a good show.

"I asked the players whether they wanted to enjoy the game or enjoy after the game," said Mourinho, meaning he asked his players to concentrate on preventing Manchester from scoring rather than playing an attacking game.

His tactics paid off 收效 as the match became a war of attrition 一场消耗战 in which both teams were unwilling to risk an all-out attack 全面攻击.

Manchester’s manager Sir Alex Ferguson summed up 总结 the game by pointing out how both teams were very evenly-matched 实力相当, saying, "there was nothing between the two sides".

Manchester United player Ryan Giggs, who was hoping to win the cup for the fifth time, was disappointed his attempt on goal 射门机会 was not ruled legal by the referee, even though Chelsea’s goalkeeper appeared to carry the ball over the goal line 球门线.

"I could see it was over the line and the referee didn't give a free-kick 任意球 so it was a goal," said the Welsh international.

Despite losing the game, Giggs praised 称赞了the two teams but felt that Manchester’s performance was slightly better, saying "we probably edged it 高出一点儿 with possession and chances."