FA Cup Final: Chelsea 2 - 1 Everton
Chelsea rebounded from the disappointment of their Champions League semi-final loss to Barcelona to lift the FA Cup in manager Guus Hiddink's last match in charge. It was a fitting end to the brief Hiddink era at Stamford Bridge, as the Dutch manager turned around an under-achieving team under former manager Scolari. Hiddink now returns to coach Russia full time as they attempt to qualify for the 2010 World Cup.

But it didn't start out well for Chelsea. Like their semi-final win against Arsenal in the FA Cup, Chelsea fell behind early. This time, they fell behind extremely early as Everton's Luis Saha scored the fastest goal in FA Cup final history. From the opening kick, Everton worked the ball into the left corner of the pitch where Steven Pienaar crossed the ball into the box. Jon Mikel partially cleared the ball away with a header, but Marouane Fellaini headed it down into the path of Louis Saha. And Saha fired a low shot past Chelsea keeper Petr Cech to give Everton the lead after only 25 seconds.

But after the initial goal, Chelsea began to dominate possession and put Everton on the defensive. The Blues were particularly successful attacking down their left flank with Ashley Cole getting forward in support of Florent Malouda. Everton right back Tony Hibbert could not match their pace and struggled to contain the threat. It was from the left wing that Chelsea found the tying goal. In the 21st minute, Frank Lampard picked out Malouda on the left wing. And with Hibbert playing well off Malouda, the French winger had plenty of space and time to play a perfect cross into the box. There were five Everton defenders in the box, but Didier Drogba drove forward and out-jumped Jolean Lescott to head the ball into the corner of the net.

The score remained 1-1 at the half, but Everton boss David Moyes made a change to start the second half, brining on Lars Jocabsen for the ineffective Hibbert. Despite the change, Everton still struggled to maintain possession, and Chelsea looked more likely to score. Saha and Tim Cahill both had half-chances on goal, but their shots were off target.

With just less than 20 minutes remaining, Chelsea broke the deadline, and it was Frank Lampard - who else? - to the rescue. Lampard received the ball just outside the box, and it looked like he was teeing up a right footed shot. Instead, he pulled the ball back to his left foot to avoid a challenge from Phil Neville, slipping in the process. But he got to his feet quickly and fired a superb left foot shot that swerved into the top left of the goal off the fingertips of Tim Howard. Lampard ran to the corner flag and danced around it in celebration, just as his father, Frank Lampard Sr., had done when scoring a winner against Everton for West Ham in the FA Cup semi-final.

Moments later, Chelsea should have gone up 3-1 when Florent Malouda fired a long-range pile-driver of a shot off the underside of the crossbar and just over the line. The pace and back-spin of the shot caused the ball to spin back out of the goal so quickly that neither the referee nor the linesman could be sure it had crossed the line. So the score remained 2-1 for Chelsea.

Nicolas Anelka also could have increased the lead on two occasions. Twice he was played in behind the defenders, but on both occasions his chip attempt past the charging Tim Howard sailed high and wide of the goal.
In the end it didn't matter. After four minutes of stoppage time, referee Howard Webb blew the final whistle and Chelsea were FA Cup winners. The players took the long walk up the Wembley steps to receive their winners medals, and captain John Terry, along with goal scoring hero Frank Lampard, lifted the FA Cup for Chelsea. It was second FA Cup in three years for the Blues, both at the new Wembley. Congratulations Chelsea, and congratulations Guus Hiddink. What a way to go out!

Portsmouth 1 - 0 Cardiff
It wasn't pretty, but Portsmouth did what they needed to do to lift the FA Cup for the first time since 1939. Kanu scored in the 37th minute when Cardiff keeper Peter Enckelman failed to control John Utaka's cross. The ball bounced right to Kanu who tapped home an easy finish from close range. And then Portsmouth's defense proved too difficult for Cardiff as Pompey held on for an historic win, manager Harry Redknapp's first major trophy in 25 years of coaching. In first half stoppage time, Cardiff's Glenn Loovens lobbed a shot into the back of the net, but the goal was ruled out for handball. Robbie Fowler was not even on the bench for Cardiff, and fellow striker Jimmy Floyd Hasselbaink was not a factor in the match. In the second half, Cardiff manager Dave Jones sent on Aaron Ramsey as a substitute, and he created a few chances, but the final touch was always lacking. Portsmouth's back four - Sol Campbell, Sylvain Distin, Glen Johnson, and Heider Hreidarsson - and keeper David James did well to preserve the clean sheet. And the goal scoring hero Kanu was named man of the match. Congratulations Pompey!

Portsmouth v. Cardiff
In a refreshing change of pace, the FA Cup final for 2008 will feature none of the big four clubs. No Chelsea, no Arsenal, no Liverpool, and no Man United. The last time that happened was 1991 when Tottenham defeated Nottingham Forest.

This time, we have a team from a lower division, Cardiff, that is not even an English club. If they had made it to the final two years ago, it would have been a home game for the Bluebirds. But now they will play at the new Wembley Stadium against Portsmouth, a club that is only a five years removed from the first division (now the Championship).

There are sentimental figures on both sides. Cardiff feature the veteran strike duo of Robbie Fowler and Jimmy Floyd Hasselbaink, though at least one will probably start on the bench. Both have played in FA Cup finals and Fowler won the cup with Liverpool. Sadly, Jimmy Floyd was injured when Chelsea lost to Arsenal and couldn't play the full 90 minutes. Saturday's final could be their last shot at FA Cup glory.

Cardiff also have two young players who should have plenty of chances for FA Cup glory during their careers. Aaron Ramsey, age 17, and Joe Ledley, age 20, are fast becoming rising stars. They may not make the difference on Saturday, but the Welsh midfielders have bright futures ahead of them.

As for Portsmouth, manager Harry Redknapp famously left Pompey for Southampton only to return to the club and lead their great escape from relegation. Now, after guiding Portsmouth to two top ten finished in the Premier League and the FA Cup final, the legend of 'arry is even greater.

One thing is for sure, an English manager will lift the FA Cup this year. Whether it will be Redknapp or Cardiff's Dave Jones, we'll have to wait until Saturday to find out. But Portsmouth should have the advantage. They are a physically strong team with athletic players and they may be too much for Cardiff to handle. David James, Sol Campbell, and Kanu all have plenty of FA Cup experience. And Niko Kranjcar, Sully Muntari, and Pape Bouba Diop are difficult to deal with in the midfield. Add strikers John Utaka and Jermaine Defoe to the mix, and Cardiff will have their hands full. I'm predicting a 3-1 win for Portsmouth.

Draw for FA Cup semi-finals:

Barnsley v Cardiff

West Brom v Portsmouth

It was a weekend of upsets in the FA Cup. Manchester United lost 0-1 at Old Trafford, defending FA Cup Champions Chelsea lost 0-1 at Barnsely, Cardiff knocked off Middlesbrough 2- 0 , and in the only predictable result, Championship side West Brom thrashed Bristol Rovers 5-1. That means there will be only one Premier League club - Portsmouth - in the semi-finals. And it means there will be at least one lower division club in the final for the first time since Millwall lost to Man United 2004.

More incredibly, this will be the first time since 1991 that none of the "Big Four" clubs (Man United, Arsenal, Chelsea, Liverpool) will be in the final. The semi-final draw will take place on Monday, but these are the four clubs that will be in the hat for the draw:

Barnsley
Cardiff
Portsmouth
West Bromwich Albion

Quarter-final results
Barnsley 1 - 0 Chelsea
goal: Odejayi

Man United 0 - 1 Portsmouth
goal: Muntari (pen)

Middlesbrough 0 - 2 Cardiff
goals: Johnson, Whittingham

Bristol Rovers 1 - 5 West Brom
goals: Miller (3), Phillips, Morrison, Coles

There will be at least one lower division club in the FA Cup semi-finals. That was made certain when League One Bristol Rovers were drawn against Championship side West Brom in the quarter-finals. There could be as many as three non-Premiership sides in the semi-finals. Here is the full draw for the FA Cup quarter-finals:

Sheffield United or Middlesbrough v Cardiff City

Manchester United v Portsmouth

Bristol Rovers v West Brom

Barnsley v Chelsea

Matches to be played on the weekend of 8 and 9 March.

Fifth Round FA Cup Matches

Bristol Rovers v Southampton

Cardiff City v Wolves

Sheffield United v Middlesbrough

Liverpool v Barnsley

Manchester United v Arsenal

Preston v Portsmouth

Coventry City v West Brom

Chelsea v Huddersfield Town

The matches are scheduled to take place on 16 and 17 February.

Full draw for the fourth round of the FA Cup

Arsenal v Stoke City/Newcastle
Coventry v Walsall/Millwall
Oldham v Huddersfield Town
Swindon/Barnet v Fulham/Bristol Rovers
Wigan v Chelsea
Luton/Liverpool v Swansea/Havant & Waterlooville
Southend v Barnsley
Southampton v Norwich/Bury
Man Utd v Tottenham/Reading
Portsmouth v Plymouth
Derby/Sheff Wed v Preston
Watford v Wolves
Peterborough v Charlton/West Brom
Sheff Utd v West Ham/Man City
Mansfield v Middlesbrough
Tranmere/Hereford v Cardiff

4th round matches to be played on 26 & 27 January

FA Cup third-round replay dates

Tuesday 15 January

West Brom v Charlton
Bury v Norwich
Barnet v Swindon
Reading v Tottenham
Millwall v Walsall
Bristol Rovers v Fulham
Sheffield Wednesday v Derby
Liverpool v Luton

Wednesday 16 January

Man City v West Ham
Havant & Waterlooville v Swansea
Newcastle v Stoke
Hereford v Tranmere

Sunday's Results
Burnley 0-2 Arsenal
Derby 2-2 Sheff Wed
Fulham 2-2 Bristol Rovers
Luton 1-1 Liverpool
Stoke 0-0 Newcastle

Saturday's Results
Aston Villa 0-2 Man Utd
Barnsley 2-1 Blackpool
Blackburn 1-4 Coventry
Bolton 0-1 Sheff Utd
Brighton 1-2 Mansfield
Bristol City 1-2 Middlesbrough
Charlton 1-1 West Brom
Chasetown 1-3 Cardiff
Chelsea 1-0 QPR
Colchester 1-3 Peterborough
Everton 0-1 Oldham
Huddersfield 2-1 Birmingham
Ipswich 0-1 Portsmouth
Norwich 1-1 Bury
Plymouth 3-2 Hull
Preston 1-0 Scunthorpe
Southampton 2-0 Leicester
Southend 5-2 Dag & Red
Sunderland 0-3 Wigan
Swansea 1-1 Havant & W'looville
Swindon 1-1 Barnet
Tottenham 2-2 Reading
Tranmere 2-2 Hereford
Walsall 0-0 Millwall
Watford 2-0 Crystal Palace
West Ham 0-0 Man City
Wolves 2-1 Cambridge Utd

Third Round Matches:

Preston v Scunthorpe
Port Vale/Chasetown v Cardiff
Colchester v Peterborough
Bolton v Sheffield United
Blackburn v Coventry
Brighton v Mansfield
Northampton/Walsall v Millwall
Charlton v West Brom
Watford v Crystal Palace
Luton/Nottingham Forest v Liverpool
Plymouth v Hull
Aston Villa v Manchester United
Tranmere v Hereford
Tottenham v Reading
Burnley v Arsenal
Bristol City v Middlesbrough
Fulham v Bristol Rovers
Huddersfield v Birmingham
Horsham/Swansea v Havant & Waterlooville
Sunderland v Wigan
Oxford/Southend v Dagenham & Redbridge
Everton v Oldham
Derby v Sheffield Wednesday
Southampton v Leicester
West Ham v Manchester City
Ipswich v Portsmouth
Wolves v Cambridge
Barnsley v Blackpool
Chelsea v QPR
Stoke v Newcastle
Swindon v Burton Albion/Barnet
Norwich v Bury