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English Premier League

Manchester Utd wins Premier title

Manchester Utd wins Premier title
May 11, 2008

By Timothy Abraham PA SportsTicker Contributing Writer

Manchester United defeated Wigan Athletic, 2-0, in Sunday's season finale to capture the English Premier League title.

Cristiano Ronaldo scored on a penalty kick in the 33rd minute to give Manchester United the lead. Ryan Giggs provided insurance with an 80th-minute goal for Manchester United, which won the title for the 10th time in the last 16 years.

United finished atop the league standings with 87 points, two ahead of runner-up Chelsea.

Chelsea entered the day needing a victory over Bolton and, at worst, a draw between United and Wigan. As United was putting the finishing touches on its win at JJB Stadium, Chelsea yielded a stoppage-time goal en route to a 1-1 tie at Bolton.

A native of Portugal, Ronaldo collected his 31st league goal to help Sir Alex Ferguson's side lift their 17th league title - only one behind Liverpool's haul of 18.

United was handed an opportunity to break the deadlock after Emmerson Boyce brought down Wayne Rooney in the penalty area and referee Steve Bennett pointed to the spot.

Ronaldo stepped up to take the 33rd-minute spot-kick and calmly side footed the ball past goalkeeper Chris Kirkland, who dove the wrong way.

Giggs, on as a substitute to equal Sir Bobby Charlton's club record of 758 appearances, added a second for United - although the result mattered little after Chelsea drew with Bolton at Stamford Bridge.

Andriy Shevchenko scrambled the ball home in the 62nd minute to give the Blues the lead. But Matthew Taylor equalized two minutes into injury team to leave Chelsea two points behind United.

Chelsea manager Avram Grant's problems were compounded by the loss of captain John Terry, who was withdrawn after a collision with goalkeeper Petr Cech which could make him a doubt for the Champions League final.

Fulham kept their Premier League status on goal difference after they claimed a 1-0 win over FA Cup finalists Portsmouth at Fratton Park.

A header from Danny Murphy off Jimmy Bullard's free kick in the 76th minute was enough to give Fulham victory over Harry Redknapp's side.

Reading finished their campaign with a 4-0 win over Derby at Pride Park - but it was not quite enough as they were relegated to the Coca-Cola Championship. Birmingham also was relegated despite a 4-1 home win over Blackburn.

Everton secured a fifth-place finish and a place in next season's UEFA Cup after they recorded a 3-1 win over Newcastle.

Aston Villa finished five points behind David Moyes' side after a 2-2 draw with West Ham at Upton Park.

Manchester City was reduced to 10 men as they were thrashed, 8-1, by Middlesbrough on a miserable afternoon in what could be Sven Goran-Eriksson's last game in charge.

Theo Walcott's 24th-minute winner helped Arsenal to a 1-0 win over Sunderland at the Stadium of Light while Andriy Voronin (69) and Fernando Torres (74) both found the net as Liverpool cruised to a 2-0 win over Tottenham at White Hart Lane.

Updated on Sunday, May 11, 2008 2:06 pm, EDT

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