The Hindu : Sport / Football : Chelsea draws with Arsenal, concedes title to Man U

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Monday, May 07, 2007
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Chelsea draws with Arsenal, concedes title to Man U

London: Manchester United won the Premier League for the first time in four years on Sunday as 10-man Chelsea, needing victory to keep the title race alive, could only draw 1-1 at Arsenal.

With two games remaining, Manchester United, which won 1-0 at Manchester City on Saturday to move to 88 points, hold an unassailable seven-point lead over Chelsea. It is United's ninth Premier League title.

Arsenal led with a 43rd-minute Gilberto penalty after Chelsea centre back Khalid Boulahrouz brought down Julio Baptista and was sent off.

Michael Essien's glancing header with 20 minutes remaining gave Chelsea hope and led to a furious late assault.

The draw leaves Arsenal level with third-placed Liverpool on 67 points but behind on goal difference. Both sides are already assured of a place in the qualifying round of the Champions League.

Chelsea was without 31-goal striker Didier Drogba, a late absentee with what Jose Mourinho said was an ankle injury, as well as Andriy Shevchenko and Michael Ballack.

Arsenal scores

The breakthrough for Arsenal came with a simple length-of-the field punt by goalkeeper Jens Lehmann which Boulahrouz misjudged.

As he scrambled back to try to regain ground on Baptista, he brought the Brazilian down in the box and a red card brought his first appearance for seven weeks to a premature end.

Gilberto dispatched the penalty — virtually the only shot on target from either side in the half — and Chelsea's hopes of a third successive championship was just about over.

In their first sustained attack of the second half Wright-Phillips clipped in a near-post cross that the tireless Essien, escaping from his enforced defensive role, expertly glanced in.

The goal lifted Chelsea and, after Alexandr Hleb had blown another great opportunity for Arsenal, it piled on the pressure.

Eight days ago Chelsea was dreaming of an unprecedented quadruple but, after being knocked out of the Champions League semifinals by Liverpool on Tuesday it now has only the May 19th FA Cup final against United to try for a double.

Mourinho lauds team

Mourinho congratulated United and said he was proud of his team, emphasising the season was far from over as it could still win the FA Cup to add to the League Cup.

``Maybe I'm prouder today than when we were champions ... because my players are heroes. I think they did it brilliantly. The season is not over, we have a final to play. The season for me was magnificent,'' he told Sky Sports.

Manchester United manager Ferguson said that despite being in the running for other silverware this season, winning the league title had been the priority.

``Some years ago I used to always have an obsession with winning in Europe but I think that's been overtaken by the demands of the Premier League because I think it's the highest league in Europe now and to win it is a big big achievement,'' he told Sky Sports.

Liverpool loses

Fulham took a massive step towards staying in the Premier League next season by beating a weakened Liverpool 1-0 at Craven Cottage on Saturday.

Robbie Fowler missed Liverpool's best opportunity of the first half, as he diverted the ball away from goal just five yards out.

Fulham eventually broke through in the first half with midfielder Dempsey starting and finishing the move.

Dempsey collected the ball in the centre of the field on 69 minutes, before charging forward and releasing Liam Rosenior down the right flank.

The cross from the wing was perfect, and Dempsey continued his run to steer the ball to Reina's right hand side to put Fulham in front.

Liverpool did not hand over the points easily, though. Harry Kewell was introduced, and when Liverpool did find the net through defender Gabriel Paletta on 84 minutes, it was ruled offside.

Fulham's Papa Bouba Diop was sent off in the final seconds for a second bookable offence as he brought down Sissoko.

Commanding Barca

Andres Iniesta and Samuel Etoo each scored second-half goals to give FC Barcelona a 2-0 win over Real Sociedad in the Spanish league.

Ronaldinho threaded the ball through Sociedad's defense to Iniesta, who rounded goalkeeper Claudio Bravo before slotting in Barcelona's first goal in the 47th minute.

The Brazil forward also supplied the pass to an unmarked Eto'o, who raced forward before shooting past the advancing Bravo in the 88th.

Barcelona's victory, only its second in 10 away matches, boosted its hopes of a third straight title. The team is also challenging for the Copa del Rey.

The results: English Premier League: Arsenal 1 drew with Chelsea 1; Fulham 1 bt Liverpool 0; Aston Villa 3 bt Sheffield United 0.

Spanish La Liga: Real Sociedad 0 lost to Barcelona 2; Deportivo 1 lost to Valencia 2. — Agencies

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