The 2000 FA Cup final was the 119th final of the FA Cup, and the 72nd (excluding replays) and last to be played at the old Wembley Stadium. It took place on 20 May 2000 and was contested between Chelsea and Aston Villa, the latter making its first FA Cup Final appearance since winning it in 1957.
Chelsea won 1–0 to secure their second FA Cup in four years, and their third in all. The goal was scored midway through the second half by Roberto Di Matteo, who had also scored in the 1997 final.
Wembley Stadium closed five months later, and was subsequently rebuilt. The FA Cup Final was played at the Millennium Stadium, Cardiff for the next six years, before returning to Wembley in 2007 (Chelsea would also win that final as well).
Road to Wembley
+ ChelseaThird RoundHull City1–6ChelseaFourth RoundChelsea2–0Nottingham ForestFifth RoundChelsea2–1Leicester CitySixth RoundChelsea5–0GillinghamSemi-FinalNewcastle United1–2Chelsea(at Wembley Stadium)
+ Aston VillaThird RoundAston Villa2–1DarlingtonFourth RoundAston Villa1–0SouthamptonFifth RoundAston Villa3–2Leeds UnitedSixth RoundEverton1–2Aston VillaSemi-FinalBolton Wanderers0–0Aston Villa(at Wembley Stadium) Aston Villa won 4–1 on penalties
Match
Summary Following a poor quality first half in which few chances were created, the match was brighter in the second, with Chelsea generally having the better of the play. George Weah missed several chances and Dennis Wise had a goal disallowed for offside, while Villa's Gareth Southgate headed wide. On 73 minutes, Roberto Di Matteo scored what proved to be the winning goal, capitalising on an error from Villa goalkeeper David James to put the ball in the net from close range. James came roaring off his line to deal with Zola's free-kick from the left, he fumbled the ball against Gareth Southgate's chest with Di Matteo blasting the rebound into the roof of the net. Villa could not get back in the match, their best chance falling to Benito Carbone, but his tame shot did not test Ed de Goey in goal.
Details
GK 1 Ed de GoeyRB 15 Mario Melchiot CB 6 Marcel DesaillyCB 5 Frank LeboeufLB 3 Celestine BabayaroDM 7 Didier DeschampsCM 16 Roberto Di MatteoCM 11 Dennis Wise (c) AM 8 Gus Poyet CF 25 Gianfranco Zola CF 31 George Weah Substitutes:GK 23 Carlo CudiciniCB 26 John TerryLB 34 Jon Harley CM 20 Jody Morris CF 19 Tore André Flo Manager: Gianluca Vialli GK 1 David JamesDF 24 Mark DelaneyDF 5 Ugo EhioguDF 4 Gareth Southgate (c)DF 15 Gareth Barry DF 3 Alan Wright MF 6 George Boateng MF 10 Paul MersonMF 7 Ian Taylor MF 18 Benito Carbone FW 9 Dion DublinSubstitutes:GK 39 Peter EnckelmanDF 31 Jlloyd SamuelMF 26 Steve Stone MF 17 Lee Hendrie FW 12 Julian Joachim Manager: John Gregory Man of the match Dennis Wise (Chelsea)Match rules 90 minutes. 30 minutes of extra-time if necessary. Penalty shootout if scores still level. Five named substitutes Maximum of 3 substitutions.
Statistics Chelsea Aston VillaGoal attempts 5 11Corner kicks 2 3Fouls committed 17 14Offsides 5 2Yellow cards 3 2Red cards 0 0 Source: The People
References
External links BBC Match Report Game facts at soccerbase.com BBC FA Cup Final 2000 Section