Sunday, 11 May 2008

UNITED RETAIN TITLE, AS READING AND BIRMINGHAM GO DOWN

Manchester United secured the Premier League title with a 2-0 win over Wigan at the JJB Stadium.

A Cristiano Ronaldo penalty and a late effort from Ryan Giggs were enough to secure first place as Chelsea could only draw 1-1 against Bolton.

It was a special moment for Giggs especially, scoring the clincher on the day he matched Bobby Charlton's appearance record for United.

Meanwhile at the bottom of the league Fulham completed the great escape, beating Portsmouth 1-0 at Fratton Park through a Danny Murphy header.

That win meant that Reading and Birmingham both go down with Derby despite winning their respective games today.

Reading beat Derby 4-0 whilst Birmingham won 4-1 against Blackburn, but both sides left it to late to avoid the drop to the Championship.

Thursday, 1 May 2008

LAMPARD SENDS CHELSEA TO FINAL SHOWDOWN

A Frank Lampard penalty and a double from Didier Drogba secured Chelsea a spot in the first all-English Champions League final after an extra-time win over Liverpool.

Didier Drogba gave Chelsea a first half lead from a tight angle after Salomon Kalou's shot was saved by Pepe Reina.

Fernando Torres finished calmly to take the tie into extra-time and it looked like penalties could decide the tie for the second year in a row.

Michael Essien thought he had won the tie early in extra-time, but the assistant referee adjudged Chelsea players standing in an offside position to be obstructing Reina's view.

But just seconds later Sami Hyypia brought down Michael Ballack in the box and referee Roberto Rosetti pointed to the spot.

Ballack, who scored a penalty to beat final opponents Manchester United at the weekend, left the spot-kick to Frank Lampard.

The England international fired home an unstoppable penalty before an emotional celebration, kissing the black armband he was wearing in honour of his mother who died last week.

Drogba added a third before Petr Cech could only palm a long range Babel strike into the top corner to set up a tense finish.

But the night belonged to Chelsea and Lampard, who go on to face United in the final in Moscow on the 21st May.

Wednesday, 30 April 2008

SCHOLES ROLLS BACK THE YEARS TO SET UP ALL ENGLISH FINAL

Paul Scholes produced one of the best strikes of his career to send Manchester United into the Champions League final.

The Red Devils beat Barcelona 1-0 at Old Trafford to reach the final for the first time since they won the trophy on "that night in Barcelona", back in 1999.

Scholes collected the ball after a loose pass by Gianluca Zambrotta and unleashed a swerving strike that flew past Victor Valdes and into the top corner.

It was only his second goal of the season and his first since August - but for United fans it was well worth the wait.

Barcelona pushed forward in a tense second half but Sir Alex Ferguson's men battled and threw themselves in front of everything to ensure their passage to the final.

And it looks set to be a heated final confrontation - with bitter rivals Liverpool, or Premier League title rivals Chelsea playing tonight for the right to face Ronaldo, Rooney and co in the final.

Tuesday, 29 April 2008

SVEN TO BE SACKED

Sven-Goran Eriksson is to be sacked as manager of Manchester City at the end of the season, it is being reported today.

Club owner, former Thai Prime Minister Thaksin Shinawatra, took the decision after watching City throw away a 2-0 lead to be beaten by relegation candidates Fulham at the weekend.

Eriksson took charge of City at the start of the season and a great start took them to third in the table in November.

The former-England boss also master-minded two wins over bitter rivals United. But City's form has faltered in the second half of the season and City have dropped out of contention for a European place.

The decision is said to have been met with shock and again from the players, and a similar reaction can be expected from fans who generally are pleased with the progress the club has made under the Swede.