United in a league of its own as City wins FA Cup to end 35-year drought
Source: Agencies |
May 15, 2011, Sunday
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MANCHESTER United was crowned English champion for a record 19th time yesterday when Wayne Rooney's penalty earned a 1-1 draw at Blackburn Rovers and the point it needed to win the English Premier League title.
Rooney, who came close to quitting United earlier in the season, struck the equalizer in the 73rd minute to take United seven points ahead of Chelsea, which has two games to play.
It is United's 12th title since the Premier League began in 1992-93 and 19th in total, surpassing the record it had shared with Liverpool.
"The players worked their socks off," said manager Alex Ferguson, who leapt in delight at the final whistle. "We gave away a bad goal but we kept on. That's a good quality."
At Wembley, London, Manchester City won the FA Cup with a 1-0 victory over an outclassed Stoke City yesterday as Yaya Toure blasted in an unstoppable shot after 74 minutes to secure its first trophy in 35 years.
Toure, who scored the goal that beat United in the Wembley semifinal to take City into its first final for 30 years, almost broke the net with his drilled low finish after Stoke failed to clear a David Silva shot.
City dominated the match against a Stoke team appearing in the final for the first time. It was kept at bay only by some desperate defending and the good goalkeeping of Thomas Sorensen and fully deserved its fifth FA Cup triumph and first since 1969.
Having already secured a place in the Champions League qualifiers for the first time, yesterday's victory is the first tangible reward for Abu Dhabi's Sheikh Mansour bin Zayed bin al-Nahyan, who bought the club in 2008 and has spent around 300 million pounds (US$487.6 million) on transfers alone.
At Ewood Park, it had been a nervous afternoon for United after it fell behind to a Brett Emerton goal on 20 minutes. While it enjoyed most of the possession, clear chances were hard to come by until Javier Hernandez was sent sprawling by a challenge from goalkeeper Paul Robinson.
Referee Phil Dowd consulted with a linesman and after furious arguments involving players from both teams, Rooney stepped up to score the crucial equalizer.
"It was terrifying," said Rooney, who changed his mind about leaving United in October, signed a long-term contract and has since rediscovered his scoring form.
"I had to compose myself before taking the penalty because there was quite a long delay," he told Sky Sports.
United has 77 points from 37 matches with Chelsea on 70 from 36.
It now has the chance to seal a Premier League and Champions League double against Barcelona in the Champions League final at Wembley on May 28.
Ryan Giggs has been in all 12 Premier League-title winning teams.
(Reuters)
Rooney, who came close to quitting United earlier in the season, struck the equalizer in the 73rd minute to take United seven points ahead of Chelsea, which has two games to play.
It is United's 12th title since the Premier League began in 1992-93 and 19th in total, surpassing the record it had shared with Liverpool.
"The players worked their socks off," said manager Alex Ferguson, who leapt in delight at the final whistle. "We gave away a bad goal but we kept on. That's a good quality."
At Wembley, London, Manchester City won the FA Cup with a 1-0 victory over an outclassed Stoke City yesterday as Yaya Toure blasted in an unstoppable shot after 74 minutes to secure its first trophy in 35 years.
Toure, who scored the goal that beat United in the Wembley semifinal to take City into its first final for 30 years, almost broke the net with his drilled low finish after Stoke failed to clear a David Silva shot.
City dominated the match against a Stoke team appearing in the final for the first time. It was kept at bay only by some desperate defending and the good goalkeeping of Thomas Sorensen and fully deserved its fifth FA Cup triumph and first since 1969.
Having already secured a place in the Champions League qualifiers for the first time, yesterday's victory is the first tangible reward for Abu Dhabi's Sheikh Mansour bin Zayed bin al-Nahyan, who bought the club in 2008 and has spent around 300 million pounds (US$487.6 million) on transfers alone.
At Ewood Park, it had been a nervous afternoon for United after it fell behind to a Brett Emerton goal on 20 minutes. While it enjoyed most of the possession, clear chances were hard to come by until Javier Hernandez was sent sprawling by a challenge from goalkeeper Paul Robinson.
Referee Phil Dowd consulted with a linesman and after furious arguments involving players from both teams, Rooney stepped up to score the crucial equalizer.
"It was terrifying," said Rooney, who changed his mind about leaving United in October, signed a long-term contract and has since rediscovered his scoring form.
"I had to compose myself before taking the penalty because there was quite a long delay," he told Sky Sports.
United has 77 points from 37 matches with Chelsea on 70 from 36.
It now has the chance to seal a Premier League and Champions League double against Barcelona in the Champions League final at Wembley on May 28.
Ryan Giggs has been in all 12 Premier League-title winning teams.
(Reuters)
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