Big guns put Chelsea in FA Cup final

Villa settled much quicker than Chelsea but the Blues had their isolated moments. Joe Cole, attempting to persuade watching England boss Fabio Capello that he is worth a place in his squad for the World Cup finals, sent an angled drive just wide from 20 yards in the 11th minute.

But Villa had more intensity about their game and, although the players were hampered by the greasy surface, they possessed more menace. James Milner almost put them in front in the 14th minute when his 25-yard drive flashed inches wide of Petr Cech's right-hand post.

The biggest talking point of the opening half, even eclipsing the state of the pitch, was a Villa penalty appeal that was firmly rejected by Howard Webb. Agbonlahor looked to have pulled the shirt of Mikel before the Villa striker went down under his challenge. Referee Webb dismissed their appeals, much to the chagrin of coach Martin O'Neill.

Villa striker John Carew, who had been marshalled superbly by John Terry for much of the game, was just wide from a corner by Stewart Downing in the 46th minute.

In the second half Salomon Kalou found the rampaging Drogba with a clever through-ball but he was foiled by a challenge from Richard Dunne. But Chelsea made Villa pay from Malouda's corner. Dunne could only head the ball straight to Terry and his mis-hit shot fell to the unmarked Drogba, who steered it home from six yards.

It was Chelsea who finished the stronger and they booked a place in their third FA Cup final in four years through Malouda in the 89th minute. Frank Lampard fed substitute Michael Ballack on the right wing and the German crossed superbly for Malouda to sweep the ball home at the far post.

Lampard scored a third from close range in added time but by then it was all academic, with Chelsea's double dream still very much alive.

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