Guus Hiddink adds another honour to his glittering CV before heading off to catch the Russian Cup final tomorrow. He watched his Chelsea team record a well deserved win over Everton in his last ever game on the touchline in charge of the Pensioners.

Didier Drogba scored his 12th goal in 20 Hiddink matches, and Frank Lampard recorded another decisive strike for his side to negate Louis Saha’s opening minute goal. There were chances also for Nicolas Anelka and Florent Malouda, who excelled alongside Ashley Cole on the left side.

Everton had no answer to Chelsea’s might, and relied only on half chances from the moment they took their lead. Chelsea win the cup for the second time in three seasons, and Guus Hiddink, a veteran of four KNVB Beker triumphs, wins a trophy for Chelsea to give his side a perfect parting gift.

First Half:

Roberto Di Matteo, formerly of Chelsea, had been the answer to a quiz question for the past 12 years. The 1997 FA Cup final witnessed the hitherto fastest goal in this fixture, scored by MK Dons manager, until Louis Saha usurped the Italian this afternoon.

Barely 30 seconds had elapsed when the Everton forward volleyed his side expertly into the lead following a Marouane Fellaini knock down. The Toffees had worked their way down the left flank, with Leighton Baines and Steven Pienaar, before the South African’s cross was ineptly dealt with by John Mikel Obi. His header only gave Fellaini the chance to assist in prompting Saha to lash a rasping drive inside Petr Cech’s near post.

Everton were given a goal start by their opponents, and Chelsea, save for an intermittent jitter, proved themselves to be worth the handicap they afforded their adversaries.

The London side found repeated joy on Tony Hibbert’s sun-drenched flank, with Florent Malouda giving the Englishman a torrid time throughout. The France international was close to setting Ashley Cole in on goal on 11 minutes, only for an offside flag to spoil the chance.

On that side, a moment later, Didier Drogba’s flick gave Michael Essien a chance to volley on his left foot. His touch was lacking though and he found only the stands.

Pienaar almost found Fellaini with a lofted through-pass, as Everton sought to lift the pressure, but Petr Cech was swift when the Belgian was hesitant.

However, Chelsea were well worth the parity they earned on 20 minutes.

Lampard fed Malouda on the left; his cross was accurate and found Drogba unmarked among four Toffeemen. The Ivorian did what comes naturally to him with an unerring header for his fifth goal in five English cup finals, connecting with his former Guingamp colleague’s centre. For their part, Everton will rue some poor defending in the build up.

Frank Lampard had a sightfinder fly over moments after, before the 42 degree heat began to make players pant.

A Louis Saha through-ball gave the underemployed Tim Cahill a half-chance, before Cole had a rush of blood to the head and lashed over from a tight angle.

Second Half:

Chances were at a premium at the start of the second period, with the searing heat preventing either side build momentum. Ashley Cole continued to rove the left, even in the absence of Hibbert, and Florent Malouda had the first opportunity, volleying wildly over on 50 minutes.

It took another ten minutes before either side manufactured anything of note; an exquisite Lampard pass was reached by the pacey Anelka, who went agonisingly close with his lobbed finish.

From there, signs of life emanated from the Merseysiders; Tim Cahill stung the palms of Cech from distance as David Moyes’ team began to attempt wrest control of the contest away from Chelsea. Soon after, Saha should have had a second when instead, his header from 10 yards went over the bar.

Their progress was almost halted when Malouda drove a powerful cross in from the left on 70 minutes; but it was too quick for Drogba to make any significant contact. Moments later, Chelsea held the power.

Anelka fed Lampard at the edge of the box and he turned away from Phil Neville to set up a chance on the left foot. Without a second thought, he swung and fired accurately into the top corner, past a partially unsighted Howard to give Chelsea a decisive lead.

A fruitful spell for the team in yellow should have brought a third goal with 15 minutes to play. Ashley Cole salvaged a Didier Drogba cross-field pass to give Lampard the chance the thread Malouda through. However, the winger’s composure deserted him and he wasted the opportunity.

He was however, on hand, to put the ball over the line with a 30-yard drive with 10 minutes left. His effort was deemed illegitimate though as the ball ricocheted off the underside of the bar before bouncing over the line and out. It was a spectacular strike and a goal would have been fitting for the former Lyon man, so impressive on the day.

There was even time for Anelka to squander another lob, after being prompted by Lampard in injury time.

Nonetheless, Chelsea claimed their fifth FA Cup, and amazingly, so did Ashley Cole, becoming the first man to do so since the 1800s.

Line Ups:

Chelsea (4-3-3): Cech; Bosingwa, Alex, Terry, Cole; Mikel, Essien (Ballack 60′), Lampard; Malouda, Anelka, Drogba

Everton (4-5-1): Howard; Hibbert (Jacobsen h/t), Yobo, Lescott, Baines; Osman (Gosling 82′), Neville, Cahill, Fellaini, Pienaar; Saha (Vaughan 76′)

Goals:

Chelsea: Drogba 20′, Lampard 72′

Everton: Saha 1′

Cards:

Chelsea: Mikel 62′, Lampard 84′

Everton: Hibbert 7′, Neville 47′, Baines 90′

Referee: Howard Webb