AARON Ramsey scored an extra-time winner early today as Arsenal ended its nine-year trophy drought by coming from two goals down to beat Hull City 3-2 in a gripping FA Cup final at Wembley Stadium in London.
Appearing in their first ever major final, Hull rocked Arsenal by going 2-0 up inside just eight minutes through goals from centre-backs James Chester and Curtis Davies.
But Santi Cazorla’s sumptuous free-kick reduced the arrears in the 17th minute and after Laurent Koscielny netted an equaliser with 19 minutes of normal time remaining, Ramsey drilled home the winner in the extra period.
“We have conceded early in lots of big games this season, but we showed great strength of character to come back and to score the winner is something I have dreamt off,” Ramsey told ITV.
It was the Welsh midfielder’s 16th goal of a campaign that has seen him emerge as Arsenal’s most influential player and brought manager Arsene Wenger’s side a first trophy since the 2005 FA Cup.
Wenger, who is still to extend his contract, which expires shortly, has now won five FA Cups, while Arsenal have equalled Manchester United’s record of 11 successes in the competition.
“We wanted to make history tonight and win the game and we did that in both ways — how not to start the cup final and how to come back,” said Wenger.
“I’ve praised the spirit of this team and they showed that today.”
Hull faded badly after their stunning start, but manager Steve Bruce’s side could console themselves with the knowledge that a Europa League place was already secure.
Chester had unexpectedly overcome a hamstring problem to take his place in Hull’s three-man defence, but nobody could have predicted how quickly he would have an impact on the game at a muggy Wembley Stadium.
Hull’s fans were still adjusting to the novelty of seeing their side in an FA Cup final when Chester put them ahead in the fourth minute, clipping the ball into the bottom-left corner from Tom Huddlestone’s mis-hit volley.
Huddlestone had been picked out by Stephen Quinn from a corner and four minutes later, Arsenal were again exposed at a set-piece.
After Ahmed Elmohamady’s free-kick was partially cleared, Quinn put the ball into the box from the left and when Alex Bruce’s downward header came back off the post, Davies rattled the rebound home from a tight angle.
It might have been 3-0 minutes later, with Kieran Gibbs heading off the line from Bruce, but Cazorla reduced the arrears with a glorious 25-yard free-kick that arced into the top right corner.
Arsenal continued to force the issue in the second half and had three penalty claims turned down by referee Lee Probert in the space of 10 minutes.
Gibbs then wasted a gilt-edged chance to put Arsenal ahead by blazing over from only six yards after being teed up by Sanogo, before Cazorla was again denied a penalty following a tangle with David Meyler.
Giroud, twice, and Sanogo went close in the closing minutes of normal time and Arsenal’s dominance spilt over into extra time, with Giroud heading a cross from Ramsey against the bar.
Wenger introduced Jack Wilshere and Tomas Rosicky at half-time of extra time, but it was Ramsey who made the difference, ghosting onto Giroud’s backheel and bludgeoning a crisp shot into the bottom right corner.
Arsenal goalkeeper Lukasz Fabianski gave his team’s fans one last fright by rushing out of his box and missing the ball, but Hull substitute Sone Aluko’s effort from out on the left bounced agonisingly wide.
Wenger’s side had not won a trophy since their last FA Cup final appearance in 2005 when they beat Manchester United and had come to be seen as English football’s nearly men.
United and Chelsea have since won 25 trophies between them, while Portsmouth, Birmingham City, Swansea City and Wigan Athletic are among the teams to have tasted cup glory.
Arsenal’s record signing Mesut Ozil has himself picked up five trophies in that period but the £42.5 million ($77.6 million) former Real Madrid playmaker sees no reason why he can’t win more with Arsenal.
“We are in the final and we want to take this silverware now. I am convinced we will achieve that,” said the Germany international, whose side have not left London once during this season’s competition.
Hull finished 16th in the Premier League this season and have never played in an FA Cup final but Arsenal know from experience not to underestimate supposedly weaker opponents.
While victory saw Arsenal equal United’s overall record of 11 FA Cup wins, Hull’s trophy cabinet is completely devoid of major honours.
Based in Kingston-upon-Hull on England’s northeast coast, which is more commonly associated with rugby league, the 110-year-old club was looking to cap a remarkable recovery from the brink of obscurity.
Having played in the English fourth tier as recently as 2004, Hull went close to bankruptcy after being relegated from the Premier League in 2010, only to be saved by Egyptian-born local businessman Assem Allam.
His backing enabled Hull to return to the Premier League but he sparked anger this season by attempting to change the club name to Hull City Tigers to make them more marketable.
Atletico Madrid wins Spanish football title
ATLETICO Madrid claimed its 10th Spanish league crown early today but first in 18 years after coming from behind to draw 1-1 at title rivals Barcelona.
Alexis Sanchez’s stunning strike fired Barca into the lead on 33 minutes, but Diego Godin’s header four minutes into the second-half was enough to give Atletico the point it needed to become the first side other than Barca and Real Madrid to win La Liga in 10 years.
A point for both sides means that Barca finish the season ahead of third-placed Real Madrid thanks to a better head-to-head record, three points adrift of Atletico.
Real Madrid enjoyed a 3-1 defeat of Espanyol earlier. “There is an enormous feeling of happiness that you cannot explain,” said Atletico boss Diego Simeone.
“I want to thank the players and the people that always believed in us.
“There is no replacement for hard work. The team has understood that, done the work and today is one of the most important days in the history of Atletico Madrid.”
Goal hero Godin added that Simeone had fuelled his players’ belief when they were trailing at half-time.
“We have fought all year and the work we have done is amazing. To last 38 games against two great teams Real Madrid and Barcelona is incredibly difficult,” he told Canal Plus.
“The boss told us at half-time that we were going to score a goal. In the end football has been fair to us.” “We have fought all year and the work we have done is amazing. To last 38 games against two great teams Real Madrid and Barcelona is incredibly difficult,” Godin told Canal Plus.
“The boss told us at half-time that we were going to score a goal. In the end football has been fair to us.”
Barca, meanwhile, finish a disappointing season without a major trophy for the first time in six years.
“Congratulations to Atletico. They are deserving champions,” said Barca captain for the day Andres Iniesta.
The visitors had started brightly but were dealt a huge blow after just 15 minutes when top scorer Diego Costa pulled up with the recurrence of a hamstring injury that will also make him a huge doubt for the Champions League final against Real Madrid next weekend.
Arda Turan was also forced off with a hip injury.
source: theaustralian.com.au
STUDIO 3 NEWCASTLE AUSTRALIA 