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United win 10th Premier League crown

May 12, 2008, 0:06 GMT

London - Manchester United won the Premier League for the 10th time Sunday, as they beat Wigan Athletic 2-0 at the JJB Stadium. Goals from Cristiano Ronaldo and Ryan Giggs were enough to give them the title by two points as Chelsea drew 1-1 at home to Bolton Wanderers. Quite aside from missing out on the title, Chelsea's day was overshadowed by a serious injury to John Terry. He dislocated his elbow in a 10th-minute collision with his goalkeeper Petr Cech and was stretchered off, almost certainly ruling him out of next week's Champions League final against United in Moscow. At the bottom, Fulham were saved as Danny Murphy struck 14 minutes from time to give them a 1-0 win at Portsmouth, sending Reading and Birmingham City down with Derby County, even though both won. This was far from a convincing performance from United, and certainly Chelsea could have no complaints that Wigan, managed by former United captain Steve Bruce, did not give it their all. United were clearly nervous, but went in a goal up at half-time after they got the better of two penalty decisions. First Rio Ferdinand got away with blocking a Jason Koumas drive with his upper arm, and then, with 33 minutes played, Emerson Boyce was adjudged to have fouled Wayne Rooney as the two tangled. Ronaldo sent Chris Kirkland the wrong way from the spot for his 41st goal of the season, his 31st in the Premier League. Wigan's fury with referee Steve Bennett was intensified when Paul Scholes, already booked for a foul on Wilson Palacios, got away with a cynical block on the same player that looked a blatant yellow card. Bennett, always a controversial figure, redressed the balance to an extent by not awarding what seemed a clear penalty to United eight minutes into the second half as Titus Bramble tripped Scholes. It took a fine low save from Kirkland to deny Rooney as he cut in from the left on 55 minutes, but the score stayed obstinately at an edgy 1-0. Emile Heskey, who had scored Wigan's equalizer at Chelsea last month, almost awakened United's worst fears as he flashed a header just over after 68 minutes, but United clung on. Giggs has played a part in all 10 of those Premier League successes, and reached another milestone as he came off the bench to equal Sir Bobby Charlton's record of 758 appearances for the club. Fittingly it was the Welshman who sealed the title with 11 minutes remaining, sliding home a neat finish from Rooney's through-ball. 'For most of the game we played well but had some nervous moments,' said a delighted United manager Sir Alex Ferguson, who said he only began to breath easier once the second goal went in. 'And of course our oldest player, Ryan Giggs, gets it,' he said. At Stamford Bridge, Chelsea were no more commanding, and it wasn't until the 62nd minute that substitute Andriy Shevchenko put them ahead, scuffing in from close range. Didier Drogba had sidefooted an early chance wide from inside the six-yard box, and then scooped a free-kick just the wrong side of the post, and Florent Malouda had a free-kick tipped onto the bar, and they were punished for their profligacy when Matt Taylor scored a late equalizer. Given the superiority of United's goal difference, though, it hardly mattered. Reading were the first of the teams at the bottom to make a move, as James Harper put them ahead with a delightful curler after 15 minutes. Dave Kitson added a second after 61 minutes, and further goals from Kevin Doyle and Leroy Lita made the game safe at 4-0, but Reading were still left sweating on Fulham's game at Portsmouth. For 76 minutes that match remained goalless, which would have saved Reading, but then Murphy headed in a Jimmy Bullard free-kick to earn Fulham salvation and send Reading down with Birmingham, whose 4- 1 win at home to Blackburn counted for nothing. Everton sealed fifth place and UEFA Cup qualification as they beat Newcastle 3-1, while their only challengers Aston Villa could only draw 2-2 at West Ham. Arsenal finished the season on a high with a 1-0 victory at Sunderland, while Liverpool won 2-0 at Tottenham, Fernando Torres getting the second to surpass former United striker Ruud van Nistelrooy's record of 23 Premier League goals in a debut season. Afonso Alves hit a hat-trick as Middlesbrough won 8-1 at home to Manchester City, who had Richard Dunne sent off.

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Dr. Cajetan CoelhoMay 12th, 2008 - 11:52:50

Congratulations to the EPL Champions. Man United players, coaches Sir Alex Ferguson, Professor Carlos Queiroz, the rest of the backroom staff and the fans served the game brilliantly throughout the long season.

By winning the prestigious EPL, the Red Devils joined other champions and football league winners of different countries in the well publicized leagues in Europe and elsewhere.

Before Man U, Real Madrid won Primera Liga in Spain, Dempo Sports Club of Goa were crowned worthy champions of the I-League in India, Bayern Munich captured the tough Bundesliga, Galatasaray lifted the well fought Turkish League title, Standard Liege remained ahead of traditional rivals Anderlecht and FC Brugge at the end of the Belgian Eerste Klas Voetbal, and PSV Eindhoven fought well to win the Ere Divisie in the Netherlands. SK Rapid Wien took the top spot in Austria and FC Basel 1893 were champions in the Swiss League.

FC Porto in Portugal and Panathinaikos in Greece are marching with their sights firmly fixed on the league titles in their respective countries. But in the Italian Serie A, France and Scotland the race is on and the fans eagerly wait for the day of judgement which is close at hand.

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