The FA Cup used to be one of the world’s iconic sporting competitions. Going to work on Monday morning without having watched the game meant missing out on all lunch-room conversation. It ranked up there with the World Cup Final, the Olympic 100m sprint or the opening day of an Ashes series.

At least it did for us down here in Australia. We would organise Cup parties at the home of the friend with the biggest TV set, where much beer and pizza would be consumed. It was a social event, but one where even the most casual observers of English football could enjoy an exciting, high-quality match. It didn’t seem to matter that we had no allegiance to either side; we would magically divide our support and heckle each other as if we had been lifelong fans.

But somewhere along the way, the Cup lost its magic. Who knows whether it was because of the huge volume of high-quality sport that we are presented with. Maybe it’s the increased importance of the Champions League and that the FA Cup is now seen, by some, as a trophy of lesser importance – who knows.

This year, however, the interest is back. Wembley is finally open again and looking magnificent – almost worth the grief the building it has caused. There is the rare opportunity to see the two best sides in the Premier League going head-to-head in an FA Cup Final, red versus blue. Throw in the two best players in the Premiership with Didier Drogba and Cristiano Ronaldo, and two brilliant and controversial managers, and you have a marketing department dream. The down side is that it’s Manchester United and Chelsea and it’s hard to get excited when you want both sides to lose.

Of course, the game was always going to struggle to live up to that expectation. The first half was reminiscent of two heavyweight boxers, probing each other's defences, looking for weaknesses, but all the while very wary of their opponents' ability to deliver a devastating counter-punch. The only real excitement came with Wayne Rooney’s unsuccessful attempts to beat the offside trap (and his inability to put the ball in the net after being called).

The second half was better. Gone was the uncertainty and wariness of the first half, replaced by the attacking flair that you would expect from the two sides that have dominated the Premiership. The ball was moved from end-to-end with lightning speed and pinpoint precision the way that top sides do best.

Despite the increased tempo, the sides remained locked together at the end of regular time. They know each other way too well and each promising venture forward was shut down by an ever-attentive defence. United had possibly the best opportunities with Rooney and Ryan Giggs, but neither side really looked like breaking through.

Extra time saw more of the same until the 14th minute when a cross from Rooney put the ball at the feet of Giggs, who knocked it in to the arms of the Chelsea keeper and their momentum carried the ball over the line. Unluckily for United, none of the officials could see the ball and the goal didn’t count. No doubt we will hear lots more about goal-line technology over the next few days.

Finally, in the 26th minute of extra time and completely against the flow of play, Drogba and Frank Lampard combined in an exquisite one-two move to beat the United defence and secure Chelsea their fourth FA Cup and, with the League Cup, a cup double. But in the end it was a disappointing game and is what probably  we should have expected between two sides who are so evenly matched. Ah well, there's always next year.

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