Ronaldo and Giggs win 17th title for Manchester Utd

Manchester United retained the Premier League title yesterday when they won 2-0 at Wigan and Chelsea were held 1-1 at home by Bolton.

It was the old and new faces of United who combined to secure the victory as Cristiano Ronaldo put them on their way with a 33rd-minute penalty and Ryan Giggs, on the day he equalled Bobby Charlton's club record 758th appearance, completed the win 10 minutes from time.

United ended the season on 87 points, two clear of Chelsea, who were leading through Andriy Shevchenko until Bolton grabbed an injury-time equaliser.

It was United's 10th Premier League title and 17th championship in all - one short of Liverpool's record - and they will now go for a domestic and European double when they face Chelsea in the Champions League final on May 21.

Everton qualified for the UEFA Cup after their 3-1 home victory over Newcastle United secured fifth place.

There was also a remarkable game at Middlesbrough where the home side hammered Manchester City 8-1, helped by a hat-trick for Afonso Alves.

There was nothing mid-table about the two main events as United and Chelsea began the day locked together on 84 points.

The first breakthrough came at the JJB Stadium when Wigan's Emmerson Boyce tripped Wayne Rooney in the box and Ronaldo calmly sent the keeper the wrong way from the spot.

United had further reason to thank the referee soon after when he opted not to show Paul Scholes a second yellow card for a body check that could easily have ended his involvement.

In London, Chelsea suffered an early setback when captain John Terry suffered a dislocated elbow after a collision with goalkeeper Petr Cech.

After struggling for impact in the first half, Chelsea improved after the break and Shevchenko, on as a second-half substitute, bundled them into the lead after 62 minutes.

With United's goal difference far superior the title was still heading back to Old Trafford though and they made certain of it when Giggs tucked in the second.

That ended the race but Bolton's late equaliser at Stamford Bridge gave United clear water in the standings.

Since the League began in 1888-89, the following clubs have won the title: 18 - Liverpool; 17 - Man. United; 13 - Arsenal; 9 - Everton; 7 - A.Villa, Sunderland; 5 - Newcastle; 4 - Sheff. Wed.; 3 - Huddersfield, Leeds, Wolves, Blackburn, Chelsea; 2 - Portsmouth, Preston, Burnley, Man. City, Tottenham, Derby; 1 - Sheff. Utd, West Brom, Nottm Forest, Ipswich.