Chelsea became the champions of the FA Cup after Didier Drogba scored the winner in the 116th minute against Premiership champions Manchester United to send the Blues supporters into raptures at the new Wembley Stadium on Saturday.

United were aiming to win their 12th FA Cup while Chelsea had won the event three times earlier. They were the last team to win at this venue in 2000 and today became the first side to win as the world’s oldest football tournament returned to London.

Portuguese boss Jose Mourinho lifted his first FA Cup trophy since his arrival at Stamford Bridge in 2004 summer. He has since won the Premiership twice so also the League Cup, and one Community Shield.

After a lacklustre regulation time, the extra time saw Sir Alex Ferguson’s side dictating the terms while the Blues looked weary.

United had a nice chance in the 102nd minute with substitute Alan Smith finding himself close to the Chelsea goal with the ball at his feet for a moment only for Michael Essien to dispossess the former Leeds man.

In the next minute, United skipper Ryan Giggs failed to beat Petr Cech with another piece of determined defending from Essien putting the United winger slightly off after Wayne Rooney had sent in the cross from right.

Giggs however claimed that Cech had taken the ball over the goalline, but linesman saw otherwise. At the other end, Drogba, who was off-balance, headed into the side netting, from a hand-shaking distance from Edwin Van der Sar’s goal.

Rooney was a little late to react as Paul Scholes found the striker with a wonderful ball from a long way back. However, Rooney’s first touch took the ball into Cech’s reach.

The Blues scored against the run of play with five minutes left for the extra time period to end with Drogba bringing up his 33rd goal of the season beating Van der Sar with a little chip as the Dutch keeper rushed forward after Frank Lampard had played a delightful assist.

Chelsea’s only notable attempt in the extra time before the goal was substitute Salomon Kalou’s fine run and a shot at the goal that was slightly off the mark.

Earlier, both teams produced an extremely cagey affair with the tempo of the proceeding only picking up in the second half.

After a cautious opening, Chelsea had a half-chance to get onto the scoring sheet in the 6th minute when United defenders Wes Brown and Rio Ferdinand failed to deal properly with a cross from right. But Shaun Wright-Phillips, who had the ball breaking to him on the left, then failed to connect properly and only came up with a scuffed attempt.

Essien, filling in central defence, was fortunate when in the 17th minute the Ghanaian’s interception presented Rooney with the ball just near the box. However, the England striker failed to capitalise on the chance.

On a counter-attack in the 23rd minute, the Blues worked up the steam up a bit with Ivorian striker Drogba trying a long-range attempt, which however missed the target narrowly but bringing out a full-length dive from Van der Sar.

United defenders looked busier of the two with Wright-Phillips and Joe Cole occasionally stringing up sharp moves but no damage had been done.

United could have punished Chelsea’s off-side trap with Cristiano Ronaldo and Rooney through with Cech to beat. Apparently the long ball that fell to Rooney got the linesman pulling him up for off-side.

At the half-hour-mark, Paulo Ferreira came up with a run from right wing and Lampard, who joined in late inside the box, let go a grounder only to see Van der Sar up to the challenge.

Lampard chanced a long-range effort in the 37th minute but it was over the crossbar, following a neat build-up by the Blues.

United stitched a fluent move in the 39th minute but Giggs’ final ball inside the box was cut out by Bridge. Soon after, Rooney’s side volley missed the target narrowly following Paul Scholes’ pass.

United made a bright start to the second half with Rooney bringing out a save from Cech immediately after the start. The Blues also came up with an attack with substitute Arjen Robben and Drogba being involved.

Chelsea had a great chance to score when John Obi Mikel sent in a cross to Drogba inside the United box. However, the Golden Boot winner failed to get his head onto the ball under pressure from Rio Ferdinand.

Rooney embarked on a bursting run on a counter attack and entered the rival box in the 55th minute but only a timely tackle from Bridge saved Chelsea from the damage. Minute later, Giggs blasted a volley over after Scholes’ characteristic chipped assist on a free-kick.

At the hour-mark, United conceded a free-kick right at the edge of the box and Drogba’s right-footed shot thudded into the outside of the goalpost.

Robben looked sharp ever since he came in for Joe Cole and moved quickly down the left wing cutting inside after beating Wes Brown, but his low shot from a tight angle failed to get the better of Van der Sar.

At the other end, Cech came up with a superb save as he kept his concentration to snatch the ball off the feet of Rooney, who had dribbled past Essien and John Terry, to move into a good position.

Essien tidied up an embarrassing situation for the Blues when Giggs was able to get through their off-side trap off a defence splitting ball by Michael Carrick. But the Welshman’s uncharacteristically flawed touch allowed Essien to put in the tackle and thwart the danger.

United hung on in the last few minutes as Drogba and Lampard were in great positions before Ferdinand’s unconvincing work saved the day for the Red Devils. At the other end, Ronaldo’s grounder was wide of the mark. Rooney then had a chance off Carrick’s pass.

Teams:

Chelsea: Petr Cech; Paulo Ferreira, Michael Essien, John Terry, Wayne Bridge, John Obi Mikel, Claude Makelele, Frank Lampard, Shaun Wright-Phillips (Salomon Kalou 94), Didier Drogba, Joe Cole (Arjen Robben 46) (Ashley Cole 107).

Substitutes: Carlo Cudicini, Ashley Cole, Arjen Robben, Salomon Kalou, Lassana Diarra.

Manchester United: Edwin Van der Sar; Wes Brown, Rio Ferdinand, Nemanja Vidic, Gabriel Heinze, Cristiano Ronaldo, Paul Scholes, Michael Carrick (John O'Shea 112), Darren Fletcher (Alan Smith 92), Ryan Giggs (Ole Gunnar Solskjaer 112), Wayne Rooney.

Substitutes: Tomasz Kuszczak, Patrice Evra, John O'Shea, Alan Smith, Ole Gunnar Solskjaer.