Another Didier Drogba cup final goal was not enough as Chelsea allowed Tottenham to come from behind and take the Carling Cup with an extra-time winner.

For the first time since 2002, the Blues failed to triumph when making the final of a knockout competition as they failed to take control of a London derby in which set-pieces decided the day.

Drogba's strike in itself was a free-kick, but Bebatov put Spurs level from the penalty spot in the second half before Woodgate forced a header from a Jenas free-kick past Cech for the winner.

Contrary to much media speculation before kick-off, Avram Grant selected both John Terry and Frank Lampard. When it came to choosing his forward line for his first English cup final, the manager opted for Drogba and Anelka in the starting line-up together for the first time. Wright-Phillips made up the three. Mikel returned to the side as the holding midfielder. and at the full-back, Belletti and Wayne Bridge were to chosen pair.

The start from the Chelsea right-back was not good. The most experienced member of the side, Belletti nervously rolled his first pass into no man's land where Keane grabbed possession, advancing before unleashing a shot that was deflected wide.

From the corner, Drogba impeded King sufficiently for the Spurs captain to hook well over.

Chelsea had survived a dodgy opening minute but then on 8 minutes, we conceded a corner that Chimbonda looped onto the crossbar with a far-post header. Then Berbatov headed wastefully wide when meeting a Keane crossed unmarked.

Chelsea found a way into the Spurs area briefly when Wright-Phillips's low cross tried to find Drogba and Anelka but the Tottenham defence cleared.

On 18 minutes, Chelsea conceded a free-kick when Terry tugged back Berbatov and again the marking was loose when Lennon played the ball in. Woodgate missed with his header.

The game was lacking the fire and brimstone of some London derbies. The first Chelsea foul hadn't been committed until minute 11, Tottenham lasted another 11 minutes before transgressing. Whether by design or chance, Spurs were attacking repeatedly down the Chelsea right. The Blues were attempting to thread our way through more centrally but it was a congested path.

On 25 minutes, Chelsea won our first corner from a Wright-Phillips cross. It was headed clear by Woodgate.

Spurs were soon down the other end and when the ball was headed clear, Malbranque struck the first shot on target of the game, Cech scrambling it round the post.

Chelsea counter-attacked from the corner, Lampard drilling the Carling Cup holders' first strike at goal well over from 25 yards.

Two free-kicks from central positions followed for Avram Grant's men - the first deflected over from Lampard, the second curled just two yards wide by Drogba.

On 37 minutes, Zokora was the first player booked, for a late tackle on his fellow Ivorian, Drogba.

This time, Drogba broke the sequence by claiming the strike and as Robinson's first movement was behind his wall, the man with the Golden Boot placed the ball low to the keeper's left.

There were 37 minutes gone. Didier had once again opened the scoring in a Wembley cup final.

On 43 minutes, the lead was put under serious threat when a Lampard mistake led to Berbatov being played through. As the Bulgarian attempted to balance for the shot, Essien did brilliantly to wrestle possession away.

With that escape, the Blues were able to go into half-time ahead and knowing we hadn't lost a game having taken the lead since November 2006. The opposition that day however was Tottenham.

The opening 15 minutes of the second-half were more spread although neither side turned the space into chances. There was a couple of minutes of worry after Drogba appeared to suffer a leg injury that he was struggling to shake off, but he did eventually recover.

On the hour, Spurs made a switch, Chimbonda replaced by Huddlestone. Malbranque went to left-back.

Wright-Phillips was only a whisker away from beating Robinson to the ball as he chased down a back pass and then Lampard played in Anelka who was tackled as he attempted to shoot. There were hopes of a Chelsea improvement.

However on 68 minutes, the previously subdued Lennon worked a crossing opportunity and under pressure from Huddlestone, Bridge handled as the ball dropped and bounced, the linesman giving the decision.

Berbatov wrong-footed Cech with the spot-kick.

Grant reacted quickly to the equaliser, bringing on Kalou for Wright-Phillips with 71 minutes gone.

On 80 minutes it took the goalkeeping genius that is Petr Cech to keep the scores level.

Spurs worked the offside perfectly to send Zokora clean through but as the midfielder struggled to control the ball, the Chelsea keeper closed and saved the shot with his face. Despite that painful blow, he was still there to fling himself and pressure Zokora into blasting his follow-up shot wide.

Three minutes later, Cech was there again, saving Berbatov's shot on the turn from 12 yards.

With four minutes of normal time left on the clock, Essien for a split second looked to have picked Drogba out at the far post with a 45-yard diagonal pass but it was just out of reach.

That was the Ghanaian's last touch. He was replaced by Ballack.

Lampard had a difficult shooting chance under pressure with 88 minutes gone and struck wide. In the final minute of stoppage time, a Spurs long throw was knocked on and with Chelsea hearts in mouths, Keane's over-head kick cleared the bar.

Three minutes into extra-time, Spurs took the lead and yet again, a set-piece was responsible. The free-kick had been conceded by a clumsy Anelka foul and when Jenas curled it into the danger zone, Woodgate went up with Cech. The defender got the first touch, Cech pushed it out but only onto Woodgate again, the ball cannoning in.

Mikel was booked five minutes in for body-checking Jenas and three minutes later was replaced by Joe Cole, allowing Anelka into a central role for the first time as the Blues essential went with four up front.

Lampard worked Robinson with a free-kick from an acute angle and on the same patch of turf on the left, Carvalho was booked for a lunge at Zokora.

The first period of extra time ended with a goal deficit still to overcome. Chelsea stood and listened to instructions while Spurs players lay on the turf for leg stretches.

The first shooting chance of the second period was Cole's after a corner but from 20 yards, his effort drifted off-target.

Not so the attempt by Kalou with eight minutes to go after he cut inside Woodgate but his 12-yard effort was beaten out by Robinson. Tainio was booked for time-wasting as the seconds ticked on, two colleagues would follow him into the book.

Cole latched onto a King mis-header but his shot was tame and Zokora again lacked the composure to make the most of a counter-attack before Chelsea camped in the Spurs half for the remaining five minutes.

Belletti blasted high over the bar to relieve the pressure and Spurs were asked to survive one more corner before the final whistle.

That whistle came before Kalou was found in front of goal by a Terry header, that conclusion to the game angering the Chelsea players, but the damage had already been done. 

Chelsea (4-3-3): Cech; Belletti, Carvalho, Terry (c), Bridge; Essien (Ballack 87), Mikel (J Cole 98) Lamp; Wright-Phillips (Kalou 71), Drogba, Anelka.
Scorer Drogba 37,
Booked Mikel 95, Carvalho 103.

Tottenham (4-4-2): Robinson; Hutton, Woodgate, King (c); Chimbonda (Huddlestone 60); Lennon, Jenas, Zokora, Malbranque (Tainio 74); Keane (Kaboul 102), Berbatov.
Scorers Berbatov 71 (pen), Woodgate 93.
Booked Zokora 37, Tanio 115, Lennon 120, Jenas 123.

Email afterthewhistle@chelseafc.com for any Carling Cup Final tales.

 

See the highlights on Chelsea Plus or the full 90 minutes on Chelsea TV, all from midnight.