Chelsea double on the horizon

The last two winners of the FA Cup − Chelsea and Portsmouth − will meet in this afternoon's showdown at Wembley. Last year, Chelsea beat Everton 2-1 and in 2008 Portsmouth toppled Cardiff City 1-0.

Taking a look at the Premier League season just ended, this final can be dubbed as a meeting of 'rags and riches'. While Chelsea were crowned champions, Portsmouth finished at rock bottom after being deducted nine points for becoming the first Premier League club to go into administration.

Chelsea, coached by Italian Carlo Ancelotti, are seeking to claim their first double in history after making sure of the Premiership title last week. The Chelsea FC juniors have just won the FA Youth Cup for the first time since 1961.

Today, the Blues' goal-machine (scored a record 103 Premier League goals) will be all out to claim the 11th 'league and FA Cup double' in the history of the game. The last club to achieve the feat was Arsenal in 2002.

Portsmouth cannot participate in Europe even if they succeed in winning the silverware today. The cash-strapped club were denied permission after an appeal by a joint statement issued by the FA and the Premier League. The team that finished seventh will now take their place in the Europa League.

The criterion for a UEFA club licence was refused because Portsmouth were not in a position to file their accounts in time, being in administration and with heavy debts of £124 million.

On the very day results elsewhere meant Pompey were relegated, they produced a spirited performance to beat the much-fancied Tottenham and earn a place in the FA Cup final, even if the North London club dominated the semi-final at Wembley.

This FA Cup run provided some relief for the loyal Portsmouth fans amid the turmoil. They will have high hopes to flourish again this afternoon at Wembley.

Avram Grant's squad is boosted by the news that their best player, according to the critics, Jamie O'Hara, will be fit for the final.

O'Hara had to skip the semi-final since the match was against his parent club Tottenham, who had loaned him out to the southcoast club.

In 2007-08, Grant was in charge of Chelsea after Jose Mourinho had left Stamford Bridge. The Israeli led the side to the runners-up spot in the Premier League and went all the way in the Champions League, only to lose the final 5-6 on penalties against Manchester United.

In 2006, Grant was Technical Director at Portsmouth. In July 2007, he left to take over as Director of Football at Chelsea. Now in his second spell at Fratton Park he will be working overtime to put one over his ex-club after sacking him when he was so close to lift the Champions League trophy.

It is no secret that Roman Abramovic is obsessed with the European Cup and the main reason he signed Italian coach Ancelotti was for his pedigree in the competition, both as a player and manager.

This year, Chelsea were eliminated from the tournament by Inter in the last 16. The Italian champions, with Mourinho as coach, went on to reach the final at the expense of Barcelona.

Ancelotti, however, will go one better if Chelsea win this afternoon and do the double. Mourinho never achieved that at Chelsea.

The Chelsea-Portsmouth showdown involves two clubs from the south of England for the second time since 2003 when Arsenal beat Southampton 1-0 (Pires).

Chelsea who became the first club to win at the new Wembley in 2007, beating Manchester United 1-0, can win the FA Cup for the second successive time today and follow in the footsteps of other London teams who achieved the feat since 1960.

2003-2002: Arsenal beat Southampton and Chelsea.

1982-1981: Tottenham beat QPR and Manchester City.

1961-1960: Tottenham beat Burnley and Leicester.

Chelsea won the silverware on five occasions - 2009 vs Everton 2-1; 2007 vs Manchester United 1-0 aet; 2000 vs Aston Villa 1-0; 1997 vs Middlesbrough 2-0; 1970 vs Leeds United 2-2, 2-1 (replay) aet.

On four other occasions the Blues finished on the losing side in the ultimate showdown - 2002 vs Arsenal 0-2; 1994 vs Manchester United 0-4; 1967 vs Tottenham 1-2; 1915 vs Sheffield United 0-3.

Portsmouth have won the FA Cup twice. The most recent was in 2008, defeating Cardiff City 1-0. Their other success came in 1939, giving Wolves a 4-1 hiding.

Portsmouth reached the final on two other occasions - 1934 vs Manchester City 1-2; 1929 vs Bolton Wanderers 0-2.

Head to head

In the Premier League this season, Chelsea beat Portsmouth 2-1 at Stamford Bridge and at Fratton Park Chelsea won handsomely 4-0.

In past FA Cup commitments, the two sides crossed swords three times - 1996-97 (quarter-final): Portsmouth vs Chelsea 1-4. The Londoners reached the final and got the better of Middlesbrough. 1928-29 (fifth round): Chelsea vs Portsmouth 1-1. Portsmouth won replay 1-0 at Fratton Park and lost the final to Bolton.

Way to Wembley

Third round: Chelsea-Watford 5-0 (Sturridge 2, Eustace og, Malouda, Lampard); Portsmouth-Coventry 1-1 (Boateng). Replay: 2-1 aet (Wright og, Mokoena).

Fourth round: Preston-Chelsea 0-2 (Anelka, Sturridge); Portsmouth-Sunderland 2-1 (Utaka 2).

Fifth round: Chelsea-Cardiff City 4-1 (Drogba, Ballack, Sturridge, Kalou); Southampton-Portsmouth 1-4 (Owusu-Abeyie, Dindane, Belhadj, O'Hara).

Quarter-final: Chelsea-Stoke City 2-0 (Lampard, Terry); Portsmouth-Birmingham 2-0 (Piquionne 2).

Semi-final: Chelsea-Aston Villa 3-0 (Drogba, Malouda, Lampard); Portsmouth-Tottenham 2-0 aet (Piquionne, Boateng pen).