2000 FA Cup Final: Chelsea 1-0 Aston Villa
The last final under the Twin Towers

The footage

The match report

The 119th FA Cup final was played on Saturday 20 May 2000 at Wembley in front of 78,217 spectators. It was the 72nd final at the stadium and the last: Wembley closed five months later for rebuilding, and the final moved to Cardiff for six years. The Observer's reporter noted fireworks and about a thousand Tannoy mentions of the Twin Towers' impending doom, and the Guardian's David Lacey, who placed the match in the bottom six of the 72, called the stadium of legends the stadium of dog-ends.[11][8][12][4][5]

Aston Villa were in their first final since they beat Manchester United in 1957, and their supporters were the noisier by some distance. Chelsea had been there three years earlier, when Di Matteo scored after 43 seconds against Middlesbrough. The two line-ups told a story of the era: Villa's included eight Englishmen, Chelsea's one, the captain Dennis Wise, and Chelsea's bench had no place for Chris Sutton, the striker bought for 10 million pounds the previous summer. Gianluca Vialli also left out Tore Andre Flo, pairing Gianfranco Zola with George Weah, 33 and on loan from AC Milan. Mario Melchiot came in at right back for the injured Albert Ferrer.[8][4][5][12]

John Gregory, a pragmatist, did not try to out-pass Chelsea. George Boateng and Ian Taylor played it tight in midfield and the ball went long to Dion Dublin, and Vialli's decision to start Gus Poyet on the right flank, to use his height against Alan Wright, left Chelsea off balance. The first half produced one save, Wise's ninth-minute volley held by David James, one threatening shot, Paul Merson's volley over the bar, and three bookings for tit-for-tat fouls. Its liveliest moment came just before the interval, when Dublin hauled Frank Leboeuf to the ground by the neck in the Chelsea area and neither official saw anything wrong.[5][4][8][1]

The second half was a different match. Taylor and Gareth Southgate headed wide inside four minutes, then Weah, released by Zola, shot a foot wide, and from then on Chelsea had the better of it. James failed to hold a shot from Di Matteo and Wise poked in the rebound, only for Weah to be flagged marginally offside. Weah then missed from six yards at the far post when Zola's cross cleared everyone, and James rushed out to block his attempt to flick the ball over him.[8][1][5][4]

The goal came with about 17 minutes left. Melchiot, having decided he could do more than watch Benito Carbone, swapped wings, exchanged passes with Celestine Babayaro and was brought down by Taylor near the corner flag. Zola swung the free-kick into a crowded goalmouth, James came out to punch and got nowhere near it, the ball struck Southgate, and Di Matteo drove the rebound into the roof of the net. It was his third goal in Wembley finals for Chelsea, and nothing like the strike of three years before, but it was enough.[4][5][1][8]

Villa's one chance to save the match came within minutes and was a mirror of the goal. Ed de Goey dropped Merson's free-kick and Carbone, with half the goal to aim at, struck the ball so weakly with his left foot that Leboeuf cleared it off the line. Gregory sent on Steve Stone and Julian Joachim for the last 12 minutes, and later Lee Hendrie, to little avail. Di Matteo's lob from the left came back off the top of the post, Ugo Ehiogu headed Villa's last chance over with Dublin better placed beside him, and James went up for a stoppage-time free-kick that Chelsea cleared before the whistle.[8][5][4][1]

Wise took his five-month-old son Henry up to the Royal Box to collect the trophy. Gregory said Villa had not done enough in the final third, which had been the story of their season; James said individual mistakes had cost them and his was one of them. Vialli, who became the most successful manager in Chelsea's history, called Di Matteo a great man who liked to play at Wembley and score goals. The victory took Chelsea into the UEFA Cup after a league season that had ended their hopes of the Champions League, and gave Villa the consolation of the Intertoto Cup.[5][2][4][1][8]

The summer that followed was expected to bring a clear-out at Stamford Bridge, and the final changed the mood. Vialli said afterwards that he would not expect any major change, Di Matteo said he would finish his career at the club, and Wise pointed out that Chelsea had played 61 games that season and needed a big squad. Weah, whose loan was ending, said he had to go back to Milan.[7][12]

How the match unfolded

1. 2'George Boateng shakes Dennis Wise with a crunching tackle that referee Graham Poll punishes only with a warning.[8]
2. 9'The first save. Gareth Southgate heads out Gianfranco Zola's centre and Wise meets the clearance with a volley that David James clutches to his midriff. The Telegraph has it after ten minutes.[4][8]
3. 15'George Weah wrong-foots the Villa defence with a back-flick over his own head, one of the few bright moments of the half.[1]
4. 16'Gareth Barry is booked, and two minutes later Mario Melchiot follows him, for tit-for-tat fouls on each other.[12][4][8]
5. 25'Paul Merson's volley from 25 yards dips over the bar, the only Villa attempt of the half that carries a threat.[8][5][1]
6. 28'Wise is booked for a sly kick at Boateng's ankles.[12][4][8]
7. 45'Dion Dublin hauls Frank Leboeuf to the ground by the scruff of the neck in the Chelsea area; neither the referee nor his assistant acts. Half-time, 0-0.[4][1]
8. 47'Three chances in four minutes after the restart: Ian Taylor and Southgate head wide from crosses by Alan Wright and Merson, then Weah, released by Zola, shoots a foot wide.[8][1][5]
9. 53'Chelsea have the ball in the net. James fails to hold Roberto Di Matteo's shot and Wise pokes in the rebound, but Weah is flagged marginally offside. The BBC times this at 56 minutes.[4][1][5][8]
10. 60'Weah, unmarked at the far post as Zola's cross clears everyone, wafts the ball over from close range. The BBC places the miss three minutes after the disallowed goal.[5][4][1][8]
11. 72'Goal. Melchiot swaps wings, exchanges passes with Celestine Babayaro and is fouled by Taylor near the corner flag. Zola swings the free-kick in, James comes to punch and only knocks the ball against Southgate, and Di Matteo drives the rebound into the roof of the net. Chelsea 1-0 Aston Villa. The BBC, the Telegraph and RSSSF say 72; the Guardian, Wikipedia and Chelsea themselves say 73.[1][8][10][4][5]
12. 75'Villa's one real chance. Ed de Goey drops Merson's free-kick and Benito Carbone, with half the goal to aim at, scuffs a left-footed shot that Leboeuf clears off the line. The BBC places it with ten minutes to go.[5][8][1][4]
13. 79'John Gregory sends on Steve Stone and Julian Joachim for Taylor and Carbone.[12][8][4]
14. 80'Di Matteo's flighted lob from the left beats James and bounces off the top of the post; the BBC places it after Carbone's miss without a minute, so the 80 here is approximate.[1]
15. 88'Tore Andre Flo replaces Weah; Lee Hendrie replaces Wright. Jody Morris comes on for Zola a minute later.[12][1]
16. 89'Villa's last chance: from Merson's cross Ugo Ehiogu heads over with Dublin better placed beside him.[1][4][8]
17. 90'Poyet and Boateng are shown late yellow cards according to the standard reference work. In stoppage time James joins the attack for a free-kick; Chelsea clear and the whistle goes. The last final at the old Wembley is over.[12][1][4]

Match facts

Date

Saturday 20 May 2000

Venue

Wembley Stadium, London

Attendance

78,217The figure printed in Colin Malam's Telegraph report (the page Wikipedia cites) and repeated by the standard reference work. The Guardian's David Lacey rounded it to 78,000. No FA document we could reach prints an attendance.[8][12]

Referee

Graham Poll[1][8][4]

Scorers

Roberto Di Matteo 72'[1][8][10][4]

Half-time

0-0

Competition

1999-2000 FA Cup

Where they played

Both sides as they lined up. Choose any player to read what they did in this final.

Select a shirt for that player's note.

Route to the final

Line-ups

Trivia and detail

• Villa were appearing in their first final since 1957, when they beat the emerging Busby Babes of Manchester United 2-1; their supporters were much the noisier and the Chelsea end, three years on from beating Middlesbrough, seemed blase by comparison.[8][11]
• Villa's starting line-up included eight Englishmen; Chelsea's included one, Dennis Wise, with Jody Morris, John Terry and Jon Harley among the substitutes.[8]
• Chris Sutton, signed for 10 million pounds at the start of the season, was not even on the Chelsea bench.[4][8]
• The third round that season was played on 11 December 1999, and Villa's opponents Darlington had entered it as what the BBC called lucky losers.[10][3]
• Villa reached the final without scoring in the semi-final: their tie with Bolton Wanderers at Wembley finished 0-0 after extra time and was won 4-1 on penalties. Chelsea beat Newcastle United 2-1 at the same ground a week later with two goals from Poyet.[10][3]
• Di Matteo's goal was his third in Wembley finals for Chelsea: one in the League Cup and two in the FA Cup, including the 43-second strike against Middlesbrough in 1997 that remained the fastest in an FA Cup final.[1][4]
• Wise took his son Henry, five months old, up to the Royal Box to collect the trophy, and the BBC's picture gallery shows the pair with the cup.[5][2]
• Victory made Vialli the most successful manager in Chelsea's history and guaranteed the club a place in the UEFA Cup; Villa's consolation was a place in the Intertoto Cup.[1][8]
• Wise said afterwards that Chelsea had played 61 games that season and it had taken a toll on them, which was why a club needed a big squad like Manchester United's.[7]
• Leboeuf, asked about his first final before the game, said the first time was always the one you remember. Weah, at 33 and on loan, was thought to be playing his last chance of an FA Cup final.[4][8]

How well do you know the 2000 final?

Five questions. Every answer is sourced from the material on this page.

1. Who scored the only goal of the 2000 FA Cup final?

   Roberto Di MatteoGianfranco ZolaDennis WiseGeorge Weah
   Answer

   Roberto Di Matteo. Di Matteo drove the rebound into the roof of the net after James fumbled Zola's free-kick against Southgate.[1][8]

2. Why is the 2000 final a landmark in the competition's history?

   It was the last final at the original Wembley before the stadium was rebuiltIt was the first final decided by a golden goalIt was the first final played on a SundayIt was the first final shown live on satellite television
   Answer

   It was the last final at the original Wembley before the stadium was rebuilt. It was the 72nd and last final at the old Wembley, which closed five months later; the next six finals were played in Cardiff.[8][12]

3. Whose error let the goal in?

   David James, who came for a free-kick and knocked the ball against his own defenderEd de Goey, who dropped a crossGareth Barry, who lost his man at a cornerMark Delaney, who sliced a clearance
   Answer

   David James, who came for a free-kick and knocked the ball against his own defender. James came roaring off his line for Zola's free-kick, fumbled it against Southgate's chest, and Di Matteo scored from the rebound.[8][5]

4. Why was Dennis Wise's second-half goal disallowed?

   George Weah was ruled offsideWise handled the ballThe referee had already blown for a foul on JamesThe ball had gone out of play
   Answer

   George Weah was ruled offside. James failed to hold Di Matteo's shot and Wise poked in the rebound, but the flag went up against Weah, marginally offside.[4][1]

5. When had Aston Villa last played in an FA Cup final before 2000?

   1957, beating Manchester United1982, losing to Tottenham Hotspur1971, losing to Arsenal1996, beating Leeds United
   Answer

   1957, beating Manchester United. Villa had not been to the final since beating the emerging Busby Babes 2-1 in 1957, which is why their supporters were the noisier.[8][11]

What is not settled

Honesty matters more than tidiness. These details are contested or unrecorded, and we have not guessed at them:

• The winning goal is timed at 72 minutes by the BBC, the Telegraph and RSSSF and at 73 by the Guardian's two reporters (one implicitly), Wikipedia and Chelsea's official site. We use 72.
• Wise's disallowed goal is placed in the 53rd minute by the Observer and the 56th by the BBC; Weah's close-range miss follows it on the hour (Guardian) or three minutes later (BBC).
• Carbone's chance is placed three minutes after the goal by the Telegraph, 15 minutes from the end by the Guardian and with ten minutes to go by the BBC.
• Poyet's booking is timed at 90 minutes by Wikipedia but described by the Observer as preceding Weah's miss on the hour. Boateng's is given as 90 by Wikipedia and is not timed by any report we read.
• Villa's shape: Wikipedia lists five defenders, four midfielders and Dublin alone, while the Guardian describes Wright as a wing-back and Carbone trying to feed off Dublin. We draw 5-3-2 on the Guardian's account and record the alternative here.
• Di Matteo's lob against the post is reported only by the BBC and without a minute; the timeline places it at 80 as an approximation between the Carbone chance and the substitutions.
• Two statistical sheets exist and disagree on every count except the yellow cards; see the feature item. Neither is official.
• The attendance of 78,217 comes from the Telegraph report and is repeated by the reference work; the Guardian printed 78,000. No FA or club document we could reach prints a figure.
• Man of the match: Wikipedia names Wise, citing The People, a page we could not fetch. No report we read names an award, so none is claimed.
• Villa's fourth-round scorer Southgate is timed at 20 minutes by RSSSF; the BBC's picture caption calls him the unlikely hero without a time.
• No footage from a rightsholder has been found for this final, so the television shows no signal rather than an unofficial upload.

How we know

Every claim on this page is tied to a numbered source below. These are the contemporary records behind it, each one fetched and matched word for word before publication rather than taken on trust:

• Paul Wilson's match report, 21 May 2000, with Gregory's and James's words · The Observer
• David Lacey's match report, 22 May 2000: tactics, Wise's son in the Royal Box, the goal timed at 17 minutes from the end · The Guardian
• Carling Opta match statistics printed on 22 May 2000: possession, shots, corners, fouls, offsides, cards · The Guardian
• Martin Thorpe, 22 May 2000: Vialli, Di Matteo, Weah, Wise and others on the summer ahead · The Guardian
• Colin Malam's Sunday Telegraph report of 21 May 2000, with attendance, referee and line-ups; the page Wikipedia cites for the attendance · The Telegraph (Colin Malam), republished by fa-cupfinals.co.uk
• Chelsea's official site, 2024: the club's own account of the 1999-2000 cup run and the final · Chelsea FC

Where a primary record and a modern account disagree, we show both rather than choosing the tidier number.

Sources

1. Chelsea claim FA Cup glory · BBC Sport
2. Chelsea's Wembley triumph: In pictures · BBC Sport
3. Villa's route to Wembley: In pictures · BBC Sport
4. Di Matteo does it again · The Observer
5. Calamity ends the tedium · The Guardian
6. How the Cup was won · The Guardian
7. Vialli does little to clear up clear-out confusion · The Guardian
8. Chelsea 1 Aston Villa 0 · The Telegraph (Colin Malam), republished by fa-cupfinals.co.uk
9. Chelsea tales from the Year of the Dragon · Chelsea FC
10. England FA Challenge Cup 1999-2000 · RSSSF
11. England FA Challenge Cup Finals · RSSSF
12. 2000 FA Cup final · Wikipedia

Elsewhere in the encyclopedia

Other finals involving these clubs

• 2002 Chelsea: Arsenal 2-0 Chelsea
• 2007 Chelsea: Chelsea 1-0 Manchester United
• 2009 Chelsea: Chelsea 2-1 Everton
• 2010 Chelsea: Chelsea 1-0 Portsmouth
• 2012 Chelsea: Chelsea 2-1 Liverpool
• 2015 Aston Villa: Arsenal 4-0 Aston Villa

Other finals at Wembley Stadium

• 1923 Bolton Wanderers 2-0 West Ham United
• 1953 Blackpool 4-3 Bolton Wanderers
• 1971 Arsenal 2-1 Liverpool
• 1973 Sunderland 1-0 Leeds United
• 1979 Arsenal 3-2 Manchester United
• 1987 Coventry City 3-2 Tottenham Hotspur

Elsewhere on WhatChan