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With a worldwide audience of millions Portsmouth won the FA Cup at Wembley on Saturday after 69 years of waiting.
The last time they lifted the prestigious trophy was in 1939 and they held on to it for seven years because of the Second World War rather than being an exceptional side.
Cardiff, meanwhile, were attempting to win it after an even longer wait whilst also becoming the first team outside the top division since West Ham in 1980 to take the prize.
The Championship side began very well causing Sol Campbell, coming back from injury, plenty of problems and with a bit more composure in front of goal would have found themselves in the lead. However, as often is the case, you have to take your chances when you get them or the ultimate price will be paid. And so it proved.
Kanu had already missed an open goal after a sublime piece of skill before he profited from a handling error by Cardiff goalkeeper Peter Enckelman to slot home from close range in the 37th minute.
David James made a similar error just before half time but got away with it when Loovens handled the ball. Such is the part that luck plays in these finals as James well knows when he has twice before cost FA Cup victories for his previous teams when making glaring errors. This time lady luck was shining on him, and maybe he deserves it given the fantastic season he has had.
The second half was a more functional affair as Portsmouth sorted themselves out at the back and Cardiff ran out of ideas and energy. Only in the last 10 tense minutes did they threaten again but even then it was scrambled half-chances rather than clear cut opportunities.
Of all the qualities that separate the Premiership sides from the others it is finishing and fitness that are the most important. Missed chances and a flagging final quarter are the usual reasons given for not winning a match and so it proved on Saturday. This is why, of course, great fitness coaches and top quality strikers are so sort after at the top level.
Portsmouth's victory was a fitting finale for manager Harry Redknapp who has had a turbulent season off the field whilst steering his side to its best league position for some time as well as securing European football for the south coast club.
Connected in the police enquiry over corruption in football, although no charges have ever been brought, Redknapp has had a lot to deal with over the past year, not least the timing of the affair. Just as his name was all over the papers and television the England manager was being chosen and he was by far and away the public choice. He may never have been offered the post anyway but any chance he did have was destroyed by this publicity.
Redknapp is a football man through and through having managed at a level just below the top clubs for 25 years. This trophy is a culmination of years of hard work, canny signings, excellent coaching and imaginative man-management. His stock has risen considerably in recent seasons with Newcastle courting him before appointing Keegan, but Redknapp is a south coast man and his decision to stay was vindicated on Saturday.
Dave Jones, the Cardiff manager, himself has had to go through considerable public inspection when he was charged, but acquitted in the first week of the trial with the judge saying the case should never have been brought against him, on child abuse charges whilst manager of Southampton.
He, like Redknapp, had a fairly moderate playing career but as a manager has found his place just below the top level although this period in the spotlight might remind a few chairmen of his skills and dedication.
It will be an interesting time for both clubs. If both managers are funded accordingly they may well be able to push for a Champions League place and promotion to the top flight respectively.
Of course, this is a big if, but with the money raised during the cup campaigns and the European money Portsmouth will secure next year if they don't do it now then it is difficult to imagine a time when they will.
As for the final itself, it was not a classic; it was not even a good match. It was interesting though and made a change to watching two of the top four boring us for 90 minutes as has happened in previous seasons.
Imagine if Chelsea and Manchester United had not suffered shocks in the quarter-finals and had contested Saturday's final only four days before their Champions League Match. It would have been a dress rehearsal played at a snail's pace with no one risking injuries, if the top players had even been playing.
As this year's competition has proved again the FA Cup is one of the few competitions that is still able to throw up a shock and for that reason alone it still holds a prominent place in the football calendar.
