United have edge over Chelsea in final showdowns

CHELSEA and United will be meeting for the fourth time in a major cup final today.

Here, we look at the three previous meetings. UNITED had finished eight points clear of Blackburn to lift a second successive Premier League title, and were aiming to become the fourth team of the 20th Century to complete a double.

Chelsea were rebuilding under player-manager Glenn Hoddle, having finished 14th in the league, and were big underdogs in the club’s first final for 24 years.

But Chelsea had the better of the first half and Gavin Peacock struck the crossbar.

United, however, took over with three goals in nine second-half minutes as Eric Cantona converted two penalties and Mark Hughes added a third.

Brian McClair wrapped up victory in stoppage time as manager Sir Alex Ferguson celebrated United’s first double. side having lifted the League Cup in February.

It was the first FA Cup final to be played at the rebuilt Wembley and the crowd of 89,826 was the biggest for the fixture since 1988.

But what had been a highlyanticipated contest turned into something of a damp squib. A shoot-out was only four minutes away when Didier Drogba played a one-two with Frank Lampard and prodded past the onrushing Edwin van der Sar. UNITED - and Van der Sar - avenged their FA Cup defeat of a year earlier in memorable fashion.

The first all-English final in Europe’s premier club competition was played at Moscow’s Luzhniki Stadium.

Cristiano Ronaldo gave United the lead with a 26th-minute far-post header but Lampard equalised on the stroke of half-time.

Chelsea struck the frame of the goal twice but the game went to penalties after Drogba had been sent off with four minutes of extra time remaining.

Chelsea captain John Terry missed the chance to win it when he lost his footing and struck the post, and Van der Sar proved the hero when he saved Nicolas Anelka’s attempt.