Giggs seals title triumph for United
by Adam Marshall, 12 May 2008
Manchester United clinched the Premier League title with a hard-fought 2-0 victory against Wigan Athletic at The JJB Stadium with Ryan Giggs bagging the clinching goal when coming off the bench to equal Sir Bobby Charlton's appearance record.
Steve Bruce's side made a mockery of any suggestion that they would be easy pickings for the champions as United rode their luck, particularly in the first half, before going ahead through a Cristiano Ronaldo penalty.
United were made to endure some nervous moments by their Lancashire hosts. Edwin van der Sar fumbled a Marcus Bent flick-on over the bar as if to illustrate his team's edginess and Rio Ferdinand was fortunate to escape when a Jason Koumas shot was drilled against his shoulder as he leaned into the ball inside the box.
Ronaldo had a free kick parried by Chris Kirkland before Steve Bennett did point to the spot as Wayne Rooney was clearly fouled by Emmerson Boyce as he tried to latch onto a loose ball.
Ronaldo kept his cool to send Kirkland the wrong way, with 33 minutes on the clock, to register his 31st league goal and 41st overall of an incredible campaign.
Paul Scholes was fortunate to escape a second yellow card when he blatantly blocked Wilson Palacios's run but Bennett showed mercy to the veteran midfielder.
Nemanja Vidic, his side's outstanding performer, made one vital clearance before the break and Marcus Bent's effort went wide from an Antonio Valencia cross.
United attacked with more purpose after the interval with Kirkland again equal to another Ronaldo free kick and Titus Bramble very fortunate his slide tackle on Scholes inside the area was not punished by Bennett.
Ronaldo should have scored when the ball came off his shoulder following a Park Ji-sung corner and Kirkland made great saves to thwart Rooney and Carlos Tevez.
After Chelsea scored against Bolton Wanderers, the nerves amongst the travelling fans started to increase, especially when Vidic powered a header just off target and even more so when Emile Heskey was as close at the other end.
But Giggs steadied the ship by latching onto Rooney's slide-rule pass and calmly steering a left-foot shot wide of Kirkland to clinch his 10th Premier League winners' medal.
Wigan should have at least pulled one back late on as Giggs cleared off the line from his own team-mate Wes Brown, Ronaldo looked to handle inside his own box and Van der Sar saved from Maynor Figueroa's surprise snap-shot.
Yet this was United's day and their season, as Bolton's equaliser left them two points clear at the top, and it could get even better come May 21 in Moscow.