Pro Eleven Headline News

Man. United Ties Premier League Mark

Manchester United tied Arsenal, 0-0, yesterday to capture its third consecutive English Premier League title and match Liverpool's mark of 18 league championships.

In a poorly played game between two of England's glamour clubs, United, which needed a point to clinch the title, won its 11th league title in 17 seasons. All came under Manager Alex Ferguson, who has 25 major trophies in his 23 years at Old Trafford and hopes to make it 26 when United faces Barcelona in the Champions League final May 27 in Rome.

"It makes you want to go on for ever," said Ferguson, a 67-year-old Scot who already has put off retirement once.

The draw at Old Trafford put the championship out of reach for second-place Liverpool, which is seven points behind with two games left.

"Thankfully, we got the job done today," striker Wayne Rooney said. "The last few years have been unbelievable."

Arsenal had the game's first scoring chance in the 14th minute when Robin van Persie put a header over the goal. Rooney then headed a cross from Michael Carrick wide of the near post, and Ryan Giggs sent a free kick from the edge of the area over the goal.

United goalkeeper Edwin van der Sar then easily caught two efforts by Arsenal before Giggs once again shot high. Cristiano Ronaldo fired a free kick wide with the final effort of the first half.

Arsenal had the better of play early in the second half with defender Kieran Gibbs shooting wide.

Van Persie sent a shot right at van der Sar in the 88th minute. Arsenal then pressured the United goal into injury time but were unable to get the goal that denied the Red Devils the title.

The final whistle set off a massive celebration. The team was presented with the Premier League trophy on the field, with the players hugging and spraying champagne.

The trophy was carried onto the field by four soldiers who returned from a four-month tour of duty in Afghanistan. As the medals were presented and fireworks exploded, the rain that had lashed the field all game cleared and Old Trafford was bathed in sunshine.

The title is Gary Neville's eighth, and the 34-year-old defender immediately set his sights on next year.

"I think it's a fantastic achievement," said the United defender, adding that Liverpool's challenge helped focus the champions. "They pushed us really hard this season. Next season, we've got our work cut out to go and do it again."

Powered this season by goals from Ronaldo and top performances from strikers Rooney and Carlos Tevez, United also had a rock-solid defense. Van der Sar set a British record by going 1,311 minutes without conceding a goal.

United withstood a shaky stretch in April, losing 4-1 at home to Liverpool and 2-0 at Fulham. Then came a winning streak that pushed the club ahead of rival Liverpool.

West Brom, meanwhile, will try to stay alive. It will be relegated if it loses today at home to Liverpool.

Middlesbrough has little chance of survival after it threw away a lead and was held to a 1-1 draw at home by Aston Villa. Newcastle slipped back into the relegation zone after a 1-0 defeat at home to Fulham. Hull moved out of the zone with a 1-1 draw at Bolton. The final round of games is May 24.

Hull has 35 points, Newcastle 34, Middlesbrough 32 and West Brom 31, with three teams to go down. Sunderland, which visits Portsmouth on Monday, is not out of danger with 36 points. Washington Post


Inter Milan champion as AC Milan loses

Inter Milan became the first club in more than 50 years to win four straight Serie A titles when AC Milan lost to Udinese 2-1 on Saturday.

Milan had to win to keep the title race alive, but the loss left it with 71 points, an insurmountable seven behind its city rival with two matches to play. Inter, with a game in hand, hosts Siena on Sunday.

Inter captured its 17th Serie A title, becoming only the third club in the 111-year history of the competition to win four straight.

Seventh-place Udinese opened the scoring in the 31st minute when Milan captain Paolo Maldini brought down Antonio Floro Flores. Gaetano D'Agostino scored on a penalty kick for his 10th goal of the season.

In the 49th minute, Cristian Zapata put Udinese in control, sliding the ball home after being set up by D'Agostino. Massimo Ambrosini scored for AC Milan in the 90th minute.

Milan still needs three points to guarantee a Champions League spot next season.
Associated Press


Barcelona crowned Spanish champions after Real defeat

Barcelona were crowned Spanish champions for the 19th time on Saturday as holders Real Madrid gifted the title to their bitter rivals after a 3-2 defeat at Villarreal.

Real knew anything other than a win would see Barcelona lift the title but Juande Ramos's side crashed to a third straight loss to hand the title to Barcelona.

It was Barcelona's second trophy inside four days, following their Kings Cup win over Athletic Bilbao on Wednesday, as they notched a league and cup double for the first time since 1998.

The Catalan giants can become the first Spanish side to win the treble if they can overcome Manchester United in the Champions League final in Rome on May 27.

"Our arch rivals are champions and we have to congratulate them," said Real defender Sergio Ramos.

"It has been difficult preparing for these past few matches as we knew it would be difficult to do anything as they had such an advantage."

Villarreal move level on points with Valencia following the Real win - courtesy of a late goal from Joan Capdevila - to keep up their Champions League charge.

Veteran French winger Robert Pires scored the 17th-minute opener with a rare header after Ariel Ibagaza had put in an enticing cross.

Real boss Ramos, who has admitted he is unlikely to be in charge next season, was visibly disappointed with the first half showing and Gonzalo Higuain replaced Klaas-Jan Huntelaar.

Higuain had an immediate impact setting up Rafael van der Vaart, a huge disappointment following a 13-million-euro switch from SV Hamburg, for the equaliser a minute after the break.

Villarreal responded and Cani put the hosts back in front in the 63rd minute before Higuain equalised late on, although it looked suspiciously offside.

Capdevila was the hero scoring in the final minute after Real keeper Iker Casillas had dropped the ball.

Earlier third-placed Sevilla spurned a chance to secure a Champions League place following a 0-0 draw at Osasuna.

Sevilla needed a win to make sure of a place in Europe's premier competition but fired blanks to leave coach Manolo Jimenez disappointed.

"We wanted a victory and are not happy to come away with a point," said Jimenez. "However, over a long season you have good games and bad ones. This was not a good one."

Sevilla move five points ahead of fourth-placed Valencia, who face Atletico Madrid, a point behind, on Sunday.

Osasuna continue to hover above the drop zone sitting fourth from bottom three points clear of the final relegation spot.

Their next game is a testing trip to Camp Nou to face newly-crowned champions Barcelona.

"Our European Cup final is at Camp Nou next weekend," said Osasuna coach Jose Antonio Camacho.

Elsewhere Saturday, Getafe rued a late equaliser in a 1-1 draw against Deportivo La Coruna at the Riazor Stadium.

Roberto Soldado put Getafe ahead in the first minute of the second half and the visitors looked set to move six points clear of the relegation places.

However, Riki levelled in the 85th minute as Depor salvaged a point.

La Coruna move two points off the top four although a UEFA Cup place looks the more realistic target. AFP