Because the life is goal.
In what was a dramatic and controversial match, United produced a sensational second half attacking performance to seal the retention of their Premier League crown after being made to work very hard by Steve Bruce’s side.
Wigan started brightly and the home side had a legitimate claim for a penalty turned down when Rio Ferdinand seemed to block a Jason Koumas shot with his arm, before Cristiano Ronaldo gave the visitors the lead from a penalty that was given after Wayne Rooney was brought down. Paul Scholes was then fortunate to escape a sending-off after a cynical challenge shortly after being booked.
United however, were sensational in the second-half providing attack after attack after the difficult first period. Chris Kirkland delayed the inevitable with a string of excellent saves before substitute Ryan Giggs, on the day he equalled Sir Bobby Charlton’s appearance record, sealed the league triumph with a cool finish to spark wild celebrations and cap a glorious day for Manchester United.
As a result the Red Devils have secured their tenth title in the Premier League era and their seventeenth League Championship of all time, moving them just one behind Liverpool’s record of eighteen triumphs. It is the first time that the Old Trafford giants have lifted back-to-back titles since 2001.
First Half
United fielded what many believed to be the strongest side available to them. Wayne Rooney and Nemanja Vidic, who were both rated as major doubts ahead of the game, started the match as United returned to a more attacking 4-4-2 formation. Carlos Tevez partnered Rooney in attack, supported by Cristiano Ronaldo and Ji-sung Park from wide positions.
Wigan made one change to the side that defeated Aston Villa last weekend. Kevin Kilbane was ruled out with a back problem, so Honduran defender Maynor Figueroa was given a baptism of fire at left-back – his first Premier League start. Emile Heskey and Marcus Bent led a strong-looking side up-front.
The ground was comfortably sold out and there was a frenetic atmosphere inside the JJB Stadium as the match kicked-off simultaneously with events at Stamford Bridge.
There was an early scare for United when the usually unflustered Ferdinand rushed a clearance that found Latics midfielder Michael Brown, who managed to hit the target with a scuffed shot. Indeed, the home side started superbly and Jason Koumas should have done better with two separate strikes from long-range. It was a fast start from Steve Bruce’s men that certainly showed the defending champions that they would not be in for an easy afternoon.
The home side were defending in numbers and breaking with pace as United struggled to assume control of the game in the first fifteen minutes, with Paul Scholes booked for a foul on Wilson Palacios. Wigan had a legitimate penalty claim turned down when Koumas again struck from distance and had his effort seemingly blocked by Ferdinand’s upper arm, although it would have been difficult for referee Steve Bennett to spot in real time.
The visitors had their best effort at goal from the first half hour when Ronaldo’s 35-yard free-kick took a wicked bounce to test Chris Kirkland in the home goal. Better was just around the corner when United were awarded a penalty when Boyce collided Rooney after a goal-mouth scramble, Boyce got nothing of the ball and although it was a tough call, it was hard to argue against the award.
Cristiano Ronaldo stepped up and calmly sent Kirkland the wrong way to give him his forty-first goal of the season and United a lead that it was hard to argue they deserved. Paul Scholes then committed a cynical foul on Palacios and having already been booked and should have been sent off after what was a moment of madness, a lucky escape for the experienced midfielder. Wigan were still unrelenting in threatening the Red Devils in search for an equaliser, with Antonio Valencia looking particularly threatening and at half-time the Latics could consider themselves very unfortunate to go in behind.
Second Half
The start of the second half was delayed so that kick-off at Stamford Bridge could take place at the same time. When the game did get back underway Kirkland again thwarted Ronaldo with a save from another powerful free-kick from distance. United then pressed for a second goal that would seal the title. Carlos Tevez sent through Scholes, who looked set to cut-back to the onrushing Ronaldo before being hacked down by Titus Bramble. Bramble got nothing of the ball, and it was this time it was Wigan who were on the fortunate side of a refereeing decision.
Ronaldo then came inches away from a second as his header crept past the post following a corner. Moments later, Rooney’s purposeful run took him past Boyce as he cut inside before striking towards the bottom corner. Somehow, Kirkland produced a sensational save to deny him as United turned the screw.
Rooney’s frustration then got the better of him, as he was booked for dissent after another controversial incident inside the box saw the England international call for a hand-ball from Boyce.
Kirkland then saved again, this time from Tevez’s low strike as United piled on the pressure after an incredible fifteen minute blitz after half-time. News quickly broke that Chelsea had taken the lead over Bolton, as Owen Hargreaves then took to the field replacing Scholes as United looked to safe-guard their one goal advantage. Ryan Giggs then took the field to equal Sir Bobby Charlton’s appearance record.
With twenty minutes remaining Heskey almost threw the title race in Chelsea’s favour as his header was narrowly over the bar. Vidic then had a header narrowly wide from a Rooney corner.
The Premier League title was sealed for the Manchester giants when Wayne Rooney played a through ball to Giggs, who found a gaping gap in between Scharner and Bramble of the Wigan defence and calmly slotted the ball past Kirkland in a glorious moment for United that sparked wild celebrations.
There were a couple of tense moments for the Red Devils defence in the closing ten minutes through Antoine Sibierski and Maynard Figueroa attempts but United held firm and secured the victory that handed them the title. The final whistle brought remarkable scenes of celebration from players, management and fans alike as United prepared for the trophy presentation after a fantastic afternoon of sporting drama.
Teams
Wigan: Kirkland, Boyce, Scharner, Bramble, Figueroa, Valencia, Palacios, Brown (King, 79), Koumas, Bent (Sibierski, 71), Heskey.
Goals: None.
Manchester United: Van der Sar, Brown, Ferdinand, Vidic, Evra, Scholes (Hargreaves, 67), Carrick, Park (Giggs, 68), Ronaldo, Rooney, Tevez.
Goals: Ronaldo (pen, 33), Giggs (78).
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