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 as United were confirmed as
champions two points clear of runners-up Chelsea. 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 21
May.
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 slide home a composed finish
from 12 yards.
United's second, plus a late equaliser for Bolton at Chelsea,
sparked scenes of wild celebrations among the visiting fans who
will now focus on the European Cup final in Moscow.
Wigan: Kirkland, Boyce, Bramble, Scharner,
Figueroa, Valencia, Palacios, Brown (King 81), Koumas, Bent
(Sibierski 70), Heskey.
Subs Not Used: Pollitt, Taylor, Skoko.
Booked: Palacios, Heskey, Valencia.
Man Utd: Van der Sar, Brown, Ferdinand, Vidic,
Evra, Ronaldo, Carrick, Scholes (Hargreaves 67), Park (Giggs 68),
Tevez, Rooney.
Subs Not Used: Kuszczak, Saha, Silvestre.
Booked: Scholes, Rooney.
Goals: Ronaldo 33 pen, Giggs 80.
Att: 25,133
Ref: Steve Bennett (Kent).
