2000 FA Cup final

The 2000 FA Cup final was the 119th final of the FA Cup, and the 72nd (excluding replays) and last to be played at the old Wembley Stadium. It took place on 20 May 2000 and was contested between Chelsea and Aston Villa, the latter making its first FA Cup Final appearance since winning it in 1957.

2000 FA Cup final
Match programme cover
Event1999–2000 FA Cup
Date20 May 2000
VenueWembley Stadium, London
Man of the MatchDennis Wise[1] (Chelsea)
RefereeGraham Poll[2] (Hertfordshire)
Attendance78,217[2]
1999
2001

Chelsea won 1–0 to secure their second FA Cup in four years, and their third in all. The goal was scored midway through the second half by Roberto Di Matteo, who had also scored in the 1997 final.

Wembley Stadium closed five months later, and was subsequently rebuilt. The FA Cup Final was played at the Millennium Stadium, Cardiff for the next six years, before returning to Wembley in 2007.

Road to Wembley

Aston Villa
Third RoundAston Villa2–1Darlington
Fourth RoundAston Villa1–0Southampton
Fifth RoundAston Villa3–2Leeds United
Sixth RoundEverton1–2Aston Villa
Semi-FinalBolton Wanderers0–0Aston Villa
(at Wembley Stadium)
Aston Villa won 4–1 on penalties

Match

Summary

Following a poor quality first half in which few chances were created, the match was brighter in the second, with Chelsea generally having the better of the play. George Weah missed several chances and Dennis Wise had a goal disallowed for offside, while Villa's Gareth Southgate headed wide. On 73 minutes, Roberto Di Matteo scored what proved to be the winning goal, capitalising on an error from Villa goalkeeper David James to put the ball in the net from close range. James came roaring off his line to deal with Zola's free-kick from the left, he fumbled the ball against Gareth Southgate's chest with Di Matteo blasting the rebound into the roof of the net. Villa could not get back in the match, their best chance falling to Benito Carbone, but his tame shot did not test Ed de Goey in goal.

Details

Chelsea1–0Aston Villa
Di Matteo 73'Report
Chelsea
Aston Villa
GK1 Ed de Goey
RB15 Mario Melchiot  18'
CB6 Marcel Desailly
CB5 Frank Leboeuf
LB3 Celestine Babayaro
DM7 Didier Deschamps
CM16 Roberto Di Matteo
CM11 Dennis Wise (c)  28'
AM8 Gus Poyet  90'
CF25 Gianfranco Zola  89'
CF31 George Weah  88'
Substitutes:
GK23 Carlo Cudicini
CB26 John Terry
LB34 Jon Harley
CM20 Jody Morris  89'
CF19 Tore André Flo  88'
Manager:
Gianluca Vialli
GK1 David James
DF24 Mark Delaney
DF5 Ugo Ehiogu
DF4 Gareth Southgate (c)
DF15 Gareth Barry  16'
DF3 Alan Wright  88'
MF6 George Boateng  90'
MF10 Paul Merson
MF7 Ian Taylor  79'
MF18 Benito Carbone  79'
FW9 Dion Dublin
Substitutes:
GK39 Peter Enckelman
DF31 Jlloyd Samuel
MF26 Steve Stone  79'
MF17 Lee Hendrie  88'
FW12 Julian Joachim  79'
Manager:
John Gregory

Man of the match

Match rules

  • 90 minutes.
  • 30 minutes of extra-time if necessary.
  • Penalty shootout if scores still level.
  • Five named substitutes
  • Maximum of 3 substitutions.

Statistics

ChelseaAston Villa
Goal attempts511
Corner kicks23
Fouls committed1714
Offsides52
Yellow cards32
Red cards00

Source: The People[1]

References

External links