Manchester United won its 10th Premier League title in 16 years Sunday, getting a penalty from Cristiano Ronaldo and another goal from Ryan Giggs to beat Wigan 2-0 on the final day of the season. Ronaldo put United ahead in the 33rd minute after Emmerson Boyce pulled down Wayne Rooney in the 32nd, and Giggs scored in the 80th off a pass from Rooney to ensure that the defending champions retained their league title. Giggs, who has played in every Premier League-winning campaign, came off the bench in the second half to match Bobby Charlton's club-record 758 games. The former United great celebrated Giggs' goal in the directors box at the JJB Stadium. Charlton, a survivor of the 1958 Munich air crash that killed eight of his teammates, came down to the field to embrace the current team after Wigan had formed a guard of honor as they returned after the final whistle. Giggs raised the trophy with artificial flames flickering behind and fireworks exploding around the stadium. United finished the 38-game season with 87 points, two points more than Chelsea, which was held to a 1-1 tie by Bolton. If Chelsea had won, United still would have won the league title on goal difference. The two teams face each other on May 21 in the Champions League final in Moscow. |