Published: 55 minutes ago
DIDIER DROGBA'S Wembley record-breaking powered Chelsea to FA Cup glory.
But the Blues survived one of the most controversial near goals in final history - after Andy Carroll came on to spark an incredible late surge from Liverpool.
Ramires lashed a deserved early opener before Drogba's classy 52nd minute finish - his eighth Wembley goal - made him the first man to net in four FA Cup finals.
But Carroll promptly came on to finally rouse Liverpool - drilling home a quick reply, then peeling away on 82 minutes when he was sure his header had crossed the line to earn extra time.
Referee Phil Dowd took his time before shrugging off the Reds' desperate appeals - and ending boss Kenny Dalglish's hopes of a cup double in his first full season back.
Instead, Blues chief Roberto Di Matteo is eyeing an an even greater twin achievement - an FA Cup and European Cup double just months after he was named stand-in boss of a spluttering team.
Chelsea's first-half superiority was instant, drawing a chance inside the first 30 seconds.
No Liverpool player had even sniffed the ball by the time the impressive Drogba swapped passes with Frank Lampard to send a falling volley wide from 25 yards.
Reds youngster Jay Spearing settled smoothly into his anchor role as Liverpool harried swiftly in midfield, clearly seeking to deny the Blues space.
But it was Spearing whose blunder helped hand Chelsea an 11th minute lead.
He lost the ball cheaply to Juan Mata deep in his own half, enabling the Spaniard to angle an inviting pass out to the right for Ramires. The Brazilian wideman wriggled into the box beyond Jose Enrique before drilling home a low shot that went in off the diving body of Jose Reina at the near post.
And even more than Spearing, Reina should rue his role in that goal.
The Reds' response, briefly at least, was lively and urgent, Steven Gerrard belatedly awaking behind isolated frontman Luis Suarez.
But Chelsea soon regained their momentum, showing patience and width in the middle third of the pitch.
True penalty-area menace was rare, though.
Nonetheless, Salomon Kalou was only thwarted by Daniel Agger's lunging challenge when he slalomed right through the heart of Liverpool's defence on 20 minutes.
Kalou and Lampard then fired harmlessly wide from distance - either side of a fleeting counter-raid from Dalglish's under-achievers when Agger's pull-back failed to clear the near post.
Drogba sent a 30-yarder dipper well off-target before Liverpool's first burst of real pressure, just ahead of the break.
Petr Cech palmed away a swirling Craig Bellamy centre, before the on-rushing Suarez headed a half-chance wide when Jordan Henderson did well to nod the ball across.
John Obi Mikel and Reds counterpart Agger were booked for late tackles in what was mostly a rather tame first period, typified by Chelsea's midfield organisation and Liverpool's toothless, disjointed look.
The Reds' task became near impossible when Drogba hit his 11th goal against Liverpool.
Picking up Lampard's low pass into the left of the box, the Ivory Coast striker needed just inches of space to hammer a left-footer inches inside the far post.
Dalglish promptly brought on Andy Carroll for Spearing - and almost immediately Liverpool lofted hopeful high balls into the box aiming for their giant targetman.
Suarez saw yellow for tripping Drogba - Lampard swerving the resulting free-kick wide - as the Reds tried in vain to educe Chelsea's swagger.
Drogba flashed a volley off-target from Mata's scissor-flick.
But suddenly Carroll transformed the contest.
Stewart Downing lunged to squirm over a near-post cross for Carroll to control, re-adjust, side-step John Terry and ram into the net.
That goal, plus Carroll's general presence and energy, gave Liverpool the cup fever they had so lacked.
And for the first time the final was a true battle worthy of Wembley.
Carroll touched down for Gerrard to blaze a volley high, then Enrique dug a cross out for the late-arriving Carroll to nod over.
Di Matteo attempted to curb Liverpool's surge by bringing on Raul Mereiles for Ramires.
But instead the Reds carved out what will become one of the FA Cup's most talked about non-goals.
Suarez peaked a flowing move with a neat chip to the far post where Carroll snaked in a firm header that Cech pawed out and off his bar, Ivanovic hooking clear. Carroll rejoiced wildly - only for Dowd to eventually wave play on.
Chelsea, though held on for a victory they probably just deserved for their control of the first hour.
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