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 20 July 2008 18:31 BST

Fans flock to Wembley for FA Cup final

Saturday, 17 May 2008 05:00
Portsmouth and Cardiff fans will relish walking down Wembley Way
Portsmouth and Cardiff City are preparing to take part in one of the most auspicious events in the UK sporting calendar today ahead of the FA Cup final at Wembley.

Organisers are preparing for a full house of 90,000 at the venue in north-west London, with the prospect of a team from outside the big four getting their name on the trophy for the first time in over a decade.

In what was a competition of genuine shocks this season, the 2008 final is almost a polar opposite of the clash of the titans that was the 2007 match.

Chelsea against Manchester United represented a battle between the top two sides in the country to officially open the new national stadium.

However, the game itself failed to live up to expectations as both teams cancelled each other out and led to one of the dullest FA Cup finals of all time.

A goalless 90 minutes meant extra time was necessary, and Didier Drogba's goal four minutes from the end of the additional period ensured a penalty shootout was not necessary.

This year, neither of the teams involved were even remotely near the top of the bookies' list of favourites to be walking out on the Wembley turf, let alone lifting the trophy.

Both Cardiff City and Portsmouth have won the cup once in their respective histories.

The Bluebirds' triumph – the only time the FA Cup has been won by a team outside England - came in 1927 when they beat Arsenal 1-0 in the final.

And Pompey's one and only win came 12 years later, as they beat West Bromwich Albion by the same scoreline.

Both clubs will be hoping for a repeat result when the game kicks off at 15:00 BST today, although most neutrals will be keen to see rather more goals.

Either way, the climax to the domestic season - although set to be somewhat overshadowed by next week's all-English Champions League final - is always an occasion to be relished.

That feeling will be more heightened than at any time for several years, as Cardiff and Pompey fans starved of big-time success in recent years get their chance in the limelight.End of story


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