Man U are Premiership
champs again
By Sun News Publishing
Monday, May 12, 2008
 |
•Ronaldo
with the Premiership cup
Photo: Sun News Publishing |
| |
Manchester United pipped rivals, Chelsea to clinch their
17th title triumph with victory at Wigan.
Cristiano Ronaldo opened the scoring for United from the spot,
after 33 minutes following Emmerson Boyce's foul on fit-again
Wayne Rooney.
Emile Heskey then wasted Wigan's best chance with a second-half
header.
And substitute Ryan Giggs clinched United's Premier League
triumph - his 10th - with a cool finish from Rooney's pass
10 minutes from time.
It sent manager Sir Alex Ferguson dancing down the touchline
in the rain at the JJB Stadium in triumph.
And the thousands of Manchester United supporters inside the
stadium celebrated a second successive title as Giggs lifted
the Premier League trophy.
Ferguson will now turn his attentions to winning the Double
when United face Chelsea in the Champions League final in
Moscow on May 21.
Wigan were as good as their pre-match words, putting up fierce
resistance before United made their superiority tell when
it mattered.
United were strengthened by the return of Rooney and Nemanja
Vidic after injury, but Wigan proved more than a match in
a closely-fought first half.
Paul Scholes was rightly booked by referee Steve Bennett for
a wild challenge on Wilson Palacios as United fought to establish
a foothold, although he also posed their best early threat
with a 20-yard shot which he pulled wide.
Boyce then wasted a half-chance for Wigan before Steve Bruce's
side were denied what looked to be a penalty after 22 minutes,
when Rio Ferdinand leaned to block Jason Koumas's shot with
his upper arm.
Wigan's frustration increased 11 minutes later, when Bennett
pointed to spot after Rooney tumbled under Boyce's challenge
and Ronaldo sent Chris Kirkland the wrong way with the minimum
of fuss.
Scholes was then the beneficiary of remarkable leniency from
referee Bennett when, having already been booked, he blatantly
blocked Palacios as he escaped down the right flank.
As the whole stadium awaited the red card, Scholes and United
were relieved, when Bennett only delivered a stern lecture.
The second half began in a deluge, with the pitch becoming
treacherous, and Ronaldo tested Kirkland with a rising 30-yard
free-kick which the keeper turned over the top.
Wigan may have felt they were due a stroke of luck, and they
got one after 52 minutes, when Scholes was clearly upended
by Titus Bramble, but referee Bennett and his assistants this
time ignored United's claims.
United were more impressive after the break, as they went
in search of the second goal that would virtually seal the
title, but Kirkland saved brilliantly low to his right from
Rooney.
Kirkland was Wigan's hero again after 58 minutes, with a crucial
block from Carlos Tevez's deflected shot.
United made a double change with 25 minutes left, sending
on Owen Hargreaves for Scholes and Giggs for Ji-Sung Park
in quick succession.
Heskey then gave United their biggest scare of the afternoon
with a powerful header from Koumas's free-kick that was inches
off target.
The title was on its way to Old Trafford after 80 minutes,
and fittingly it was veteran Giggs, who scored the clincher,
taking Rooney's clever pass in his stride to slid home a composed
finish from 12 yards. |
