FOOTBALL Live

Sunday May 11, 2008 Finished JJB Stadium

Wigan Athletic 0 - Manchester United 2

Wigan Athletic

Manchester United

  • Ronaldo 33’ (pen.)
  • Giggs 80’
  1. Giggs strike caps United triumph

    Giggs strike caps United triumph

    Manchester United sealed their 10th Premier League title in 16 years with a 2-0 win against Wigan Athletic. More

  • Live Commentary

    Time:90'
    • Wigan Athletic
    • Manchester United
    • 90+3' It's all over!! Manchester United are champions for the 10th time in 16 years - and Ryan Giggs has been a part of every one of those! The celebrations begin at the JJB Stadium!
    • 89' United pass the ball around while their fans celebrate, although Figueroa nearly catches Van der Sar out with a shot from a tight angle.
    • 87' Giggs clears off the line! It was actually a Wes Brown header but the veteran Welshman was there to clear.
    • 85' A Jason Koumas shot ricochets off a forest of legs and goes out for a goal kick.
    • 83' It hasn't been pretty, but Manchester United look to have done it. They are now stroking the ball around with assurance and Wigan have the air of a team who know the game is up.
    • 81' Marlon King comes off the bench as Wigan chuck everything forward. What was Titus Bramble doing to leave Giggs so massively unmarked?
    • 80' GOAL!!!! RYAN GIGGS WINS THE LEAGUE FOR MANCHESTER UNITED!!! He is soemhow wide open at the edge of the box and collects Rooney's through ball before slotting cooly past Kirkland!
    • 77' Valencia barges into Vidic in pointless and silly fashion. He picks up a yellow card but more importantly allows United to just alleviate the pressure a little.
    • 76' Within a matter of seconds, Rooney and Giggs both give the ball away tamely and Van der Sar completely slices a clearance.
    • 75' United are nervy and it shows. Fifteen agonising minutes and stoppage time to play. Far too close for comfort.
    • 73' VIDIC!! He meets a corner with a powerful header but sends it agonisingly wide.
    • 72' Emile Heskey is also booked, and I have to confess I have no idea what for.
    • 71' Rash challenge from Palacios, who goes into the book. United's attempt to play a clever short free-kick fails but they at least get a corner.
    • 70' Wigan bring on Antoine Sibierski for Marcus Bent.
    • 69' HESKEY!! He has Manchester United hearts in mouths as he powers a header just over!
    • 68' Now Ryan Giggs comes on for Park Ji-Sung. He breaks Bobby Charlton's appearances record but that hardly seems to matter.
    • 67' Here's the United change. It's Owen Hargreaves on for Paul Scholes, who is duly booed off.
    • 66' Wigan win a corner, while Owen Hargreaves strips off and gets ready to come off the bench.
    • 64' It is very scrappy, with both teams slipping around on the sodden turf.
    • 62' Chelsea are in front courtesy of a goal by Andriy Shevchenko! Now it really is squeaky bum time for United.
    • 61' An hour gone and Wigan have a dangerous free-kick that United take about four attempts to clear. Wigan still look dangerous, and if Kirkland can keep pulling off these saves, who knows?
    • 59' Scharner's attempted clearance falls for Park who tees up TEVEZ!!! Another fine save by Chris Kirkland!!
    • 58' Rooney lets that famous temper of his boil over after being penalised for.. and handball? He was hard done by but his furious reaction earns him a booking.
    • 57' Paul Scholes boots the ball 70 yards back towards his own goal to more hoots of derision.
    • 56' Rooney cuts inside from the right and jinks away from Bramble... FIRES!!! A terrific low shot repelled by a brilliant Chris Kirkland save!
    • 54' United corner finds RONALDO!! Off his shoulder and just wide! He will consider that a chance.
    • 53' SCHOLES IS BROUGHT DOWN!! Bramble trips him and that is a stone wall penalty - but STEVE BENNETT SAYS NO!! Well, maybe that evens things out for the first penalty.
    • 52' We are hearing that John Terry's injury is a dislocation of the elbow. That may well keep him out of the Champions League final. Not that United have their minds on Moscow just at the monment.
    • 50' Wigan continue to enjoy plenty of possession - can they make it count? Not this time, with Wes Brown able to chest easily back to Van der Sar.
    • 49' RONALDO!!! Smashes a swerving dipping effprt but it is straight at Kirkland and he tips over. The subsequent corner comes to nothing.
    • 48' Tevez is broughy down, oooh, 28 yards out. Ronaldo marches over and seizes the ball purposefully. A similar position to that from which he scored against Portsmouth.
    • 46' Perhaps surprising to see Paul Scholes still out there. Surely Owen Hargreaves would be a better bet not to get sent off?
    • 46' Second half under way (eventually) with Steve Bennett ensuring the game is synchronised with Chelsea.
    • 45+2' That is half-time, and Manchester United are 45 minutes from the Premier League title. Chelsea are still goalless against Bolton and the champions have a slight - if undeserved - lead.
    • 45+1' One minute of added time to be played, and United could be on the receiving end of some harsh words from Alex Ferguson, who is clad in a white tracksuit top - possibly on account of the rain.
    • 45' United have four against two and Ronaldo slips in Tevez, who is somehow beaten to the ball by Koumas. Indicative of the effort Wigan are putting in.
    • 44' Wigan are still deep inside the United half - it would be interesting to see territory stats.
    • 42' United corner on the left... the inswinger is cleared as far as Rooney at the edge of the box, but it is not clear whether he is trying to shoot or cross and in the end he performs neither job well.
    • 41' Scholes is booed every time he touches it. The Wigan fans think he should be off and they might well have a point.
    • 40' United really are under the cosh here. It is anything but a summer stroll in the park. Particuarly as it is raining in this particular part of the north-west.
    • 38' Brown and Vidic have had something of a coming-together. The United man inadvertently caught his opponent in the mouth with a stray forearm.
    • 37' Palacios crosses from the right to BENT!! He volleys powerfully and it goes agonisingly the wrong side of the post for the Wigan man.
    • 36' Paul Scholes is a lucky, lucky boy! He has already been booked and shoulder-charges Palacios cynically. The contact is minimal but he could very easily have been sent off!
    • 35' Ronaldo swings in the free-kick which looks dangerous but neither Tevez nor Rooney at the far post can turn it in.
    • 34' The arrogant sneer is back for Ronaldo, who is fouled and then stays in the foetal position doing his best James Dean impression. Not that James Dean often adopted a foetal position.
    • 33' GOAL!! Ronaldo steps up and sends Kirkland the wrong way, slotting low into the right side of the net! Manchester United lead.
    • 32' PENALTY UNITED!!! Wayne Rooney is tripped by Emmerson Boyce and, although it is not malicious, Steve Bennett points to the spot. Cristiano Ronaldo with the chance.
    • 31' Emile Heskey strays offside, although it has tio be said he and Bent are making the visitors somewhat uncomfortable.
    • 29' Ronaldo chases a bouncing ball over the right and volleys a ball across the face of goal - Tevez won't get to it and Kirkland is happy to let it dribble wide.
    • 28' A wild, wild attempt on goal from Figueroa, who blazes his effort high and wide. The TV replays suggest Rio Ferdinand was a touch lucky to get away with that "handball" a minute ago.
    • 26' Ronaldo does indeed shoot, and Kirkland is forced to parry it after it bounces awkwardly in front of him. Corner now.
    • 25' Scharner brings down Park and Ronaldo will definitely fancy a shot from this free-kick, although it does look a long way out.
    • 24' Scholes plays the ball out to the right for Ronaldo who is onside and pulls the ball back.. good defending by Bramble to stop it reaching Scholes for a tap-in.
    • 23' Bent! He wins a free header from the corner but directs the effort well over.
    • 22' Koumas tries another long shot and Ferdinand blocks with his left shoulder - very close to a handball but just about OK. Corner.
    • 21' Emmerson Boyce!! The corner is headed back into danger and the defender instinctively sticks out a leg, diverting the ball just over! Wigan on top so far.
    • 20' Van der Sar has to deal with an awkward Wes Brown back header and touches it over for a corner.
    • 19' United corner from the left, cleared as far as Scholes who shifts the ball to his left foot and drags a 20-yard shot just wide!
    • 18' Carrick plays a firm pass through for Tevez but the Argentinian just cannot control it.
    • 17' Ferdinand meets Carrick's pacy corner with a header that has speed but no direction.
    • 16' Rooney latches on to a long diagonal ball six yards out but Bramble scuffs it out for a corner in the nick of time.
    • 15' Over at Stamford Bridge, John Terry has been stretchered off after colliding with Petr Cech.
    • 14' Typical Paul Scholes challenge - a mistimed lunge from behind. Yellow card.
    • 12' Some shoddy defending in the United box. Park and Brown eventually combine to clear. Jason Koumas then strikes a shot into next week. Assuming next week is high over the bar.
    • 10' Ronaldo looks to dink a cross in towards Tevez but Kirkland makes an easy catch. Cue much wolf-whistling from the crowd.
    • 9' United just look very shaky early on and need a chance to settle. Wigan are well up for this and have dominated the first few minutes.
    • 8' Ronaldo drags a weak shot wide to howls of derision from the home crowd. Not a popular chap, clearly.
    • 6' Jason Koumas races through the centre and Ferdinand backs off... he fires a left-foot shot just wide.
    • 4' Wigan left-back Maynor Figueroa has quite a debut here - he faces Cristiano Ronaldo who is patrolling the right, with Rooney and Carlos Tevez up front.
    • 3' Michael Brown takes the first shot of the day, a low bobbly left-footer that Edwin van der Sar fields without much difficulty.
    • 2' Wigan throw inside the United half and Patrice Evra clears hurriedly. United look nervous and the home fans are in tremendous voice. No question that they will just roll over here.
    • 1' Steve Bennett says stuff 'em and we are under way. United kick off and whack the ball downfield, but only as far as Chris Kirkland's gloves.
    • 15:00 The kick-off is delayed slightly because Chelsea are tardy at Stamford Bridge. You'd think they could be on time for the last game of the season...
    • - The big news for Manchester United is that both Wayne Rooney and Nemanja Vidic start after their respective injuries.
    • - Welcome to LIVE coverage of Wigan versus Manchester United!! The maths are simple - if United win they are champions. Wigan can enjoy themselves - they are safe.

  • Summary

    • 80' GOAL!!!! RYAN GIGGS WINS THE LEAGUE FOR MANCHESTER UNITED!!! He is soemhow wide open at the edge of the box and collects Rooney's through ball before slotting cooly past Kirkland!
    • 73' VIDIC!! He meets a corner with a powerful header but sends it agonisingly wide.
    • 69' HESKEY!! He has Manchester United hearts in mouths as he powers a header just over!
    • 59' Scharner's attempted clearance falls for Park who tees up TEVEZ!!! Another fine save by Chris Kirkland!!
    • 56' Rooney cuts inside from the right and jinks away from Bramble... FIRES!!! A terrific low shot repelled by a brilliant Chris Kirkland save!
    • 53' SCHOLES IS BROUGHT DOWN!! Bramble trips him and that is a stone wall penalty - but STEVE BENNETT SAYS NO!! Well, maybe that evens things out for the first penalty.
    • 49' RONALDO!!! Smashes a swerving dipping effprt but it is straight at Kirkland and he tips over. The subsequent corner comes to nothing.
    • 37' Palacios crosses from the right to BENT!! He volleys powerfully and it goes agonisingly the wrong side of the post for the Wigan man.
    • 36' Paul Scholes is a lucky, lucky boy! He has already been booked and shoulder-charges Palacios cynically. The contact is minimal but he could very easily have been sent off!
    • 33' GOAL!! Ronaldo steps up and sends Kirkland the wrong way, slotting low into the right side of the net! Manchester United lead.
    • 32' PENALTY UNITED!!! Wayne Rooney is tripped by Emmerson Boyce and, although it is not malicious, Steve Bennett points to the spot. Cristiano Ronaldo with the chance.
    • 26' Ronaldo does indeed shoot, and Kirkland is forced to parry it after it bounces awkwardly in front of him. Corner now.
    • 23' Bent! He wins a free header from the corner but directs the effort well over.
    • 21' Emmerson Boyce!! The corner is headed back into danger and the defender instinctively sticks out a leg, diverting the ball just over! Wigan on top so far.
    • - Welcome to LIVE coverage of Wigan versus Manchester United!! The maths are simple - if United win they are champions. Wigan can enjoy themselves - they are safe.

Live Team Line-Up

  • Referee: Stephen Graham Bennett

  • Wigan Athletic

    Manager: Steve Bruce

    On the Field

    • Kirkland
    • Boyce
    • Bramble
    • Scharner
    • Figueroa
    • Valencia Yellow Card
    • Palacios Yellow Card
    • Brown Substitution Out (81′)
    • Koumas
    • Bent Substitution Out (70′)
    • Heskey Yellow Card

    Subs

    • Sibierski Substitution In70′
    • Skoko
    • King Substitution In81′
    • Taylor
    • Pollitt

    Injured

    None

    Suspended

    None

  • Manchester United

    Manager: Alex Ferguson

    Captain: Rio Ferdinand

    On the Field

    • van der Sar
    • Brown
    • Vidic
    • Ferdinand
    • Evra
    • Ronaldo
    • Scholes Yellow Card Substitution Out (67′)
    • Carrick
    • Park Substitution Out (68′)
    • Rooney Yellow Card
    • Tevez

    Subs

    • Hargreaves Substitution In67′
    • Silvestre
    • Giggs Substitution In68′ Goal
    • Saha
    • Kuszczak

    Injured

    • Neville

    Suspended

    • Nani