Jubilant United clinch title after victory over Latics
Rio Ferdinand and Wayne Rooney celebrate winning Premier League title
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Sunday, 11, May 2008 09:02
Manchester United have reclaimed the Premier League title after beating Wigan Athletic 2-0 at the JJB Stadium.
A penalty from Cristiano Ronaldo, his 41st goal of the season, and a strike from Ryan Giggs sees United clinch their tenth Premier League title.
Chelsea finish two points behind United after drawing 1-1 with Bolton Wanderers at Stamford Bridge, with Kevin Davies cancelling out Andriy Shevchenko's goal.
And to cap off a disappointing day for the Blues, John Terry could miss the Champions League final against United after being stretchered off with an arm injury.
Despite the shock return of Wayne Rooney and Nemanja Vidic, United looked shaky in the first-half against the Latics.
Wigan controlled possession in the early stages with Jason Koumas firing a low shot narrowly wide, while Emmerson Boyce hammered a shot over the bar following a corner.
But minutes later Boyce conceded a penalty when he tripped Rooney in the box.
Ronaldo, who missed his last penalty against Barcelona in the Champions League semi-final, stepped up and sent Chris Kirkland the wrong way to make it 1-0 on 33 minutes.
Wigan boss Steve Bruce was furious with referee Steve Bennett at half-time after he chose not to give Paul Scholes a second booking, when the midfielder blatantly blocked Wilson Palacios.
United looked to wrap up the game at the start of the second half and were furious when they were denied a penalty after Titus Bramble tripped Scholes. From the corner, Ronaldo glanced a header inches wide.
Rooney was then booked for dissent after being penalised for handball, with the striker lucky not be sent off for his outburst at Bennett.
United clinched the championship ten minutes from time when substitute Giggs collected Rooney' pass , held off two defenders and executed a low finish to make it 2-0.
It was a memorable moment for Giggs on a record-equalling 758th appearance for the Red Devils.
Meanwhile at Stamford Bridge, Avram Grant's side made a confident start with the in-form Michael Ballack crossing from the left for Didier Drogba, but the striker sliced his shot wide on ten minutes.
The talking point came two minutes later when Petr Cech's knee accidently smashed into Terry's face, resulting in a five-minute delay to stretcher the England defender off the pitch.
Drogba then spurned two chances to give the Blues the lead with a toe-poke followed by a free-kick that flew agonisingly into the side-netting.
Grant brought on Shevchenko for Claude Makelele at half-time in a bid to crank up the pressure on United.
Chelsea, unbeaten at home since February 2004, bombarded the Trotters' goal in the second half.
Florent Malouda and Drgoba both had long-range efforts tipped over the bar by Ali Al-Habsi.
The deadlock was broken on 62 minutes when a deflected shot fell into the path of Shevchenko with the striker poking the ball home from five yards.
Three minutes later, Cech was on hand to save El Hadji Diouf's rising effort in the visitors' best chance of the game.
But the Blues knew their title hopes had been dashed in the closing minutes after Giggs' goal against Wigan.
And their position as runners up was confirmed in injury time when Alex's weak clearance fell to Davies whose shot beat Cech.