Record-scoring Chelsea destroying Wigan to win 4th English crown

Blackleaf

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Until 2005, Chelsea had only been crowned English champions just once - in 1955. Today, they've won it for a fourth time.

Rampant Chelsea broke the Premier League scoring record as they ripped poor Wigan Athletic apart to become English Champions for the first time in four years and for only the fourth time ever.

Chelsea's 8-0 rout of Wigan today following their 7-0 rout of Stoke City last weekend means they have finished the season having scored 103 goals, the first time any team has broken the 100 goals barrier in the Premier league since it started in 1992.

Before today's game, Chelsea were sitting pretty at the top of the Premier League on 83 points, just one point ahead of champions Manchester United, on 82 points.

For United to win an unprecedented fourth title in a row, they would have to beat Stoke City today and hope Chelsea lose against Wigan. United did win today, but so did Chelsea, meaning they win the title by just a point.

After winning the title last year for the third year in a row, Manchester United equalled Liverpool's record of 18 league titles.

But Chelsea's win today destroyed United's hopes of claiming a record 19th English crown, and means they win the title for just the fourth time. Their previous wins came in 1955, 2005 and 2006.

Chelsea boss Carlo Ancelotti must be relieved there was no repeat of his Perugia 2000 moment.

Carlo Ancelotti becomes only the second manager to win the English title in his first season. Previously, Jose Mourinho won the title in his first season in charge of Chelsea in 2005.

Not so Blue anymore: Chelsea coronation ends 'a hard three years' of Premier League heartbreak, admits John Terry

By Jason Burt
BST 09 May 2010
The Telegraph

The Premier League

Chelsea 8-0 Wigan Athletic
Anelka 6, 56
Lampard (pen) 32
Kalou 54
Anelka 56
Drogba 63, 68, 80
A Cole 90

Chelsea are English Champions


Champions: Chelsea celebrate winning the Premier League title, which came with a little help from their potent attacking force


Reward: Chelsea boss Carlo Ancelotti and midfielder Florent Malouda

Chelsea cruised to the Premier League title, easily sweeping aside 10-manWigan Athletic, with the only moment of drama being provided by Didier Drogba, who went on to score a hat-trick to become the league’s top-scorer, with an extraordinary act of petulance.

Following an absence of three seasons the title returned to Stamford Bridge, Chelsea prevailing by a single point over Manchester United, with two first-half goals setting them on the way to the victory they required, before a deluge in the second period.

It was the first time this season that Chelsea had scored eight goals at home – having on three previous occasions registered seven goals. Those goals also took Chelsea’s tally in the league this season to 103, the first time any team has registered a century, and beating the previous best haul which had been set by United. It was a resounding endorsement of their attacking football this season and an emphatic claim to be Champions.


Champions: Chelsea players celebrate during their comprehensive defeat of Wigan Athletic Photo: GETTY IMAGES

However Drogba argued with Frank Lampard over who should take a penalty, after the latter was fouled, earning Steve Caldwell a red card. Drogba had said he wanted to finish the league’s top-scorer, and is second in line to take penalties after Lampard, but manager Carlo Ancelotti had made it clear that his regular taker would retain the duties.

However Drogba reacted embarrassingly, trudging back to the half-way line and refusing to join the celebrations as Lampard scored and later ignoring Ancelotti’s demands for him to get on with the game. Before that and Nicolas Anelka had smashed a low shot beyond stand-in goalkeeper Mike Pollitt, after Florent Malouda had headed the ball into his path.


John's joy: Blues skipper Terry lifts the trophy

That settled Chelsea nerves and after the interval they destroyed Wigan with further goals. Lampard and Kalou combined with the former running outside the striker to cut the ball back. Kalou side-footed beyong Pollitt. Then Branislav Ivanovic crossed deep for Anelka, unmarked, to strike a wonderful, crisp volley back across the goalkeeper and into the net.

No repeat of Perugia 2000 for Ancelotti

Chelsea manager Carlo Ancelotti must be relieved that there was no repeat of the shenanigans which befell him in 2000 when he was manager of Italian giants Juventus.

On 14th May 2000, Ancelotti and his table-topping Juventus side only had to beat Perugia to cinch the Italian title.

On the same day, second-placed Lazio (of Rome), who then had now-Manchester City manager Roberto Mancini playing for them, were playing Reggina in Rome, but thought their hopes of winning the title were all but zero, as they assumed Juventus will beat a poor Perugia side.

However, what nobody expected was the huge storm that was to hit Perugia. The heavy downpour caused the referee, Pierluigi Collina, to delay the second half by an hour. Once it was finally underway, Perugia scored and ended up 1-0 winners.

Lazio had won 3-0, but had assumed that the title had gone to Juventus.

But, watching the match in the dressing room afterwards, they saw Perugia score - sparking wild celebrations amongst the Lazio players at the end. They, not Juventus, had somehow clinched the title.

Drogba got his goal, being picked out by Lampard with a cross which he headed, from the angle, across Pollitt. When Chelsea were awarded a second penalty, after Ashley Cole was caught by Mario Melchiot, Lampard deferred to Drogba whose shot struck a post but ricocheted into the net. It ensured Drogba would finish the campaign ahead of Wayne Rooney, earning him the league’s Golden Boot, and he ran to Ancelotti to shake his hand. He wrapped up his hat-trick with his 29th league goal in bundling the ball over the line after Joe Cole’s shot had been parried.

There was no consolation for Wigan with Petr Cech superbly tipped over Victor Moses’s drive from distance. Instead Joe Cole showed tenacity to shake off Hendry Thomas and clip a deep cross which Ashley Cole met on the volley to finish the scoring and end the contest – and the league campaign – with a flourish.

telegraph.co.uk
 
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