I Was There: 2005 Carling Cup Final—Chelsea 3 Liverpool 2

This article marks my 50th on B/R, and so I thought I'd do something a bit special. With a number of new series' popping up on B/R over the past week or two, I thought I might as well get in on the act and see how it goes.

This set of articles will recall my experiences attending some memorable moments in Chelsea's recent history. I wrote these at the time, for a Chelsea fan site.

They are a (slightly) humorous take on these games and I hope you enjoy reading them.

February 25th 2005 was the date of my first trip to a cup final as a Chelsea supporter, and also the first chance of silverware for the club in 5 years.

Although the game was on a Sunday, myself, my dad and my brother travelled up to Cardiff via train the day before the game, we had a hotel booked literally a stones throw away from the ground. The first thing I saw when I looked out of my hotel room window was the imposing stadium.

The evening before wasn’t very eventful, dinner, drinks, Match of the Day and then bed. We awoke on game day, casually ate breakfast and whiled away the hours until kick off.

Unfortunately, our hotel was located on the Liverpool side of the stadium, and we had to walk through a sea of red shirts. Thankfully nothing was stolen.

The interior of the stadium was an impressive sight. We were seated in the lower tier, row 12 near the corner flag, to the left of the goal. It would be Liverpool who were to attack the end I was sitting at, and as you all know things were about to turn sour.

Riise scored after about 4 seconds, and my first cup final trip was on the road to disaster. The wall of noise that emanated from the Liverpool fans was staggering, but myself and others around me were up chanting and willing the team on when Riise’s goal went in.

I remember reading after the final that the decibel levels from the Liverpool fans when the goal went were the highest ever recorded at the stadium (or something like that)—so at least they won something.

Tempers flared due to the goal, and an argument broke out between the guy sitting next to me and 3 blokes behind him. What the argument was about I cant remember, but I do remember those 4 people going ballistic about an hour and a half later.

Half time came and went, and it was clear that Chelsea were on top. It seemed like were destined not to score, especially when Duff and Gallas went agonizingly close.

Thankfully, media darling Stevie G was to score a fantastic header which brought us level. I went totally mental. Strangers were hugged, screams of joy filled the air—it was ‘only’ the Carling Cup final but I just didn’t care.

Extra time arrived, and further joy was to come when Drogba and Kezman scored. My nerves were tested though when some Spanish guy (Nunez, fact fans) scored to make it 3-2.

The final whistle went, and we’d won our first trophy in 5 years—and our first in the Abramovich era. The Liverpool end emptied, while the Blue end celebrated the first of two trophies that season.

The booze fest could begin. After the players had left the pitch, I strolled out into the cold Cardiff evening air and headed back to the hotel in joyous mood.

A fair amount of Liverpool fans were in the bar when we got there, but most had already started their journey home. A group of them in the bar congratulated us on our win and were a great bunch of blokes. Before they left they gave us a Liverpool flag which is still somewhere in my house.

The rest of the evening was a bit of blur due to the alcohol, and I awoke the next morning hungover but feeling great. Chelsea had won the first trophy of the Abramovich era—and I was there to see it.

And two years later I was to be back again, for the 2007 Final. It would be a different experience but would lead to the same outcome, coming home celebrating another trophy.

Up Next: 2007 Carling Cup Final—Chelsea 2 Arsenal 1