2007 Football League Cup Final

The 2007 Carling Cup Final was played on Sunday, 25 February 2007 at the Millennium Stadium, Cardiff. [http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/football/league_cup/6371613.stm Chelsea 2-1 Arsenal] "BBC Sport". Retrieved February 25, 2007] It was contested between Arsenal and Chelsea, making it the first all-London final in the competition's history; the two sides had previously met in Cardiff for the 2002 FA Cup Final. The game ended 2–1, with Chelsea winning. Theo Walcott scored the opening goal, his first for Arsenal, while Didier Drogba scored both of Chelsea's goals to seal his side's victory. Drogba's goals were his 27th and 28th of that season, a record for him in English football.

Pre-match

Due to train delays caused by a "major signal failure", about 2,000 fans were late for the kick off of the match. [ [http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/wales/6394985.stm Train problems hold up 2,000 fans] "BBC News". Retrieved February 25, 2007] This led to many fans asking for the game to be delayed. [ [http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/football/league_cup/6392761.stm Chelsea 2-1 Arsenal - PRE-MATCH BUILD-UP] "BBC Sport". Retrieved February 25, 2007] Network Rail later apologised for the delay. [ [http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/wales/6394985.stm Apology for football fans' delays] "BBC News". Retrieved February 26, 2007]

Match incidents

A record seven minutes of stoppage time were added to the match due to the injury suffered by John Terry when he was kicked in the jaw by Abou Diaby in the second half. Terry had attempted to head the ball and Diaby's foot happened to kick him as the latter was attempting to clear the ball. The Chelsea defender was immediately stretchered off unconscious and taken to the hospital, but later discharged himself and returned to the stadium to celebrate with his teammates. [ [http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/football/teams/c/chelsea/6395301.stm Terry recovers after head injury] "BBC Sport". Retrieved February 25, 2007] Stoppage time was extended by an extra five minutes following a fracas that resulted in Kolo Touré, John Obi Mikel, and Emmanuel Adebayor being sent off for violent conduct with Frank Lampard and Cesc Fàbregas being booked for unsporting behaviour. The full-time whistle eventually blew in the 103rd minute of play.

After the initial bookings of Touré and Mikel, referee Howard Webb consulted with an assistant referee, and Adebayor was sent off, allegedly over striking Wayne Bridge. Adebayor was irate and had to be calmed down as he was escorted off the field by fellow striker Thierry Henry, who was not chosen for the match because he had not participated in the Carling Cup run. After the game, Bridge told reporters that he had been punched by Emmanuel Eboué — not Adebayor, whom he suspected to be a victim of mistaken identity. [http://www.football365.com/story/0,17033,8689_1945769,00.html Lampard: I Showed Restraint] "football365.com". Retrieved February 26, 2007] The next day Arsenal and Chelsea submitted claims for wrongful dismissal of Adebayor and Mikel, respectively, to the FA. [http://www.thefa.com/TheFA/Disciplinary/NewsAndFeatures/Postings/2007/02/Claims26Feb.htm Wrongful dismissal claims] "The Football Association". Retrieved February 26, 2007] The FA denied both appeals, also stating that Adebayor's claim "was not a claim for mistaken identity." [http://www.thefa.com/TheFA/Disciplinary/NewsAndFeatures/Postings/2007/02/AdebayorMikelrejected.htm Claims rejected] "The Football Association". Retrieved February 27, 2007] The FA statement has charged Arsenal and Chelsea misconduct concerning their inability to control their players. [http://www.thefa.com/TheFA/Disciplinary/NewsAndFeatures/Postings/2007/02/StatementCarlingCupFinal.htm FA Statement] "The Football Association". Retrieved February 27, 2007] As a result Eboué was charged with violent conduct for striking Bridge; Adebayor was charged for his behavior after being sent off. The recipients of these charges may have their case heard by a Disciplinary Commission.

John Terry's injury and Kolo Touré's sending off meant that neither side's captain finished the game. After each player had left the field the captains' armbands were given to Frank Lampard and Cesc Fàbregas respectively.

It may be the last League Cup final to be played in Cardiff, before the opening of the new Wembley Stadium (the final's traditional venue), scheduled for mid-2007. It was also the first and probably only League Cup Final to be played at the Millennium Stadium with the roof open.

The match was also marred by incidents of Chelsea fans throwing celery at Arsenal players. [ [http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/football/6394411.stm Chelsea 2-1 Arsenal - Photos] "BBC Sport". Retrieved February 25, 2007] The violence in the game lead to some media outlets dubbing the match as the "Snarling Cup Final". [cite web |url=http://home.skysports.com/list.aspx?hlid=451170&CPID=1&clid=3&lid=&title=Blackburn+v+Arsenal+preview |title=Blackburn v Arsenal preview |author=Stanton, Chris |publisher=Sky Sports |date=2007-02-28 |accessdate=2007-02-28 ]

Match details

footballbox
date=2007-02-25
15:00
team1=Chelsea
score=2 – 1
team2=Arsenal
report= [http://www.carlingcup.premiumtv.co.uk/page/News/0,,11995~987309,00.html (Report)]
goals1=Drogba goal|20 goal|84
goals2=Walcott goal|12
stadium=Millennium Stadium, Cardiff
attendance=70,073
referee=Howard Webb (South Yorkshire)

ee also

*2006-07 in English football

Notes and references